𝔹𝕠𝕣𝕟 𝕥𝕠 𝕃𝕠𝕤𝕖 | Tommy Shelby

𝕏𝕀. ᴀ ᴄᴏꜰꜰᴇᴇ ᴛᴏ ꜰᴏʀɢᴇᴛ

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May 4, 1931

Yesterday, I was writing in this same diary when, inadvertently, I hit the coffee cup, spilling it. I had to tear out what I had written, since everything that I had documented up to that moment was diluted and disappeared, as if it had never existed.

I wish I could say the same about the situation that led me to write in such a pitiful state, unable to control the movements of my hand.

The coffee was hot and I burned three fingers. When I ran to the bathroom to place the affected skin under the stream of cold water, I found Ada in the bathtub, who asked me what the hell had happened to me. I broke down in tears, in a cry so rough that it didn't take long to turn into a mental breakdown and my friend called a doctor.

They gave me a few drops of laudanum and, lying on my bed, half asleep, I was able to relate what had happened.

Today, one day after that event, I have decided I will not get rid of this notebook even if its sheets are ruined. I have resolved to capture in them everything until I can start another notebook, because I want them to be testimony to what happened.

It was raining heavily when I woke up yesterday morning. Knowing that the tram would drop me off a couple of blocks from the Shelby Company Limited offices, I dressed in clothes that I wouldn't mind ruining with mud and whose fabrics were thin enough to dry easily. I had the usual breakfast: a cup of sweet tea and toast with blueberry jam.

As I waited for my tea to be at a safe drinking temperature, Ada reminded me, just as she had done a couple of days earlier, that she had some business to take care of before going to work, so I would have to go to the Company on my own. I didn't mind: as I said above, I had already assimilated the fact of travelling by tram.

I waited at the stop longer than usual and there I knew the tram was running late. Under my umbrella, I felt icy water droplets wet my bare calves and the skirt of my dress. I knew I would be late and I became anxious.

When I saw the tram approaching, I noticed that it was full of people and I took a deep breath of air for courage. It was disgusting to travel in a crowded tram on a rainy day. I hadn't gotten on yet when I could smell the earthy scent of mud and the acrid stench of sweat.

Upon reaching my destination, I ran through the streets of Small Heath dodging puddles as my heels would allow and, when I arrived at the company, climbed the stairs without even stopping to take a breath. I finally glimpsed the closed double doors of Thomas's office and I opened them wide.

"Mr. Shelby, I'm very sorry I'm late..."

I interrupted myself when I noticed that Thomas was not alone. At my boldness, the man who was sitting in front of the desk turned to look at me and did so, first with some indignation, then with a nasty smile. A neat mustache framed his upper lip.

Thomas, for his part, looked at me seriously. He had not been amused by my behavior.

"I'm sorry", I apologized as the sudden stutter allowed me and proceeded to withdraw.

"Oh wait", the man with the mustache stopped me in a soft voice and I, for some reason, I listened to him. "What's your name?"

I turned my eyes to Thomas once more and witnessed him look at this guy with an abhorrence that I'm unable to describe. The other man, however, kept his back to him, waiting for my answer as if Thomas had ceased to exist.

"Olivia, sir", I introduced myself, completely seized with discomfort.

"What a lovely name!", he exclaimed, and for me it was quite an exaggeration. "What are you doing here, Olivia?", he asked with sincere curiosity.