Redamancy

2

After moving with her mother lily had grown into her age she had cut her hair to fit in as it was seen as the latest fashion trend she wore more bright elegant clothes she read up on it in a magazine
'Bright clothes attract the attention of men'
She wore makeup often making her face look less harsh under the bright sun she was now used to
She had not realised how gloomy it was in Birmingham until she moved

Her mind often wondered back to Birmingham sometimes it was hard to say she missed it but other days she only wishes of nothing more of going back
The war had ended and she missed her friends back home
Although she has plenty of friends here and was quite popular
She missed the sweet voice of Ada as they spoke about gossip they were like sisters

And although she was with Jacob now she had the picture of Tommy's face printed in the back of her mind she had remembered the letter she had sent to Polly to give to him and hoped he received it
But she new once he found out she had left he most likely would of burnt it in the old brick fireplace he had

She loved Jacob well that's what her friends had told her they said if she got that funny feeling in her stomach when she was around him she must be in love
But when she asked her mother she said different saying it was only butterfly's

Though she and him had already thrown the word love around plenty of times before she never really gained anything from it
Jacob had good looks and a decent personality he was someone who could talk for hours on end and could always keep you interested
Her mother approved of him to which she found to be in her best interest
In fact her mother loved Jacob hoped he and lily would marry one day  but lily doubted it well she more hoped they didn't for whatever reason

Her mother had invited Jacob to enjoy dinner with the two of them though lily's mother was much more distant than usual she was panicked more full of stress
Lily had not seen her mother like this in ages she was rushing through paperwork when lily entered clearly concerned
"Ma' what's wrong is it about selling the shop" her mother shook her head putting the paperwork down "no I sold the shop last week and collected the forms for everything remember" lily sat beside her mother "so ma' what's a ma'er"
Lily and her mother both picked up on the country's strong accent and in fact her mother was know fluent in the new language

"Nothin' just had a bad day" the words falling out of her mother's mouth wobbly " well have you took your medicine" her mother shook her head shamelessly "see nothing your old medicine can't fix eh"
She said going through the cabinet to find the right one "here we are" she said emptying two pills into her hand and filling a clean glass with water at the sink

" 'ere take these" she said placing them in front of her mother as she dropped the pills to the back of her throat taking a big gulp of water

"See all better, y'know that medicine good for you" she cheered before leaving the room to get ready for dinner

She and Jacob spoke together talking enjoying each others company jokes flying around slowing a smile to appear on lily's face a thing that Jacob enjoyed about her most

"Wow Ms. Kingston the food you made is delicious" he complimented "thank you Jacob" 
"Ma' me and Jacob are done I think we're going for a walk" lily already rising from her seat "wait I've got some news before you go"
"As you know I'm not very well sick you see"
"But ya getting better 'ent ya ma"
Jacob gripped onto lily's hand wrapping his around hers a gesture she took kindly from him
"I visited the doctor's last week told me the treatments not working"

"Surely there's something that could Help" Jacob implied after hearing the news her mother only frowned

"No say I only have a year to live maybe shorter"
Lily was frozen lost for words she had been taking care of her mother every day she was convinced she was getting better s
She let tears run down her face yet she didn't make one single noise

"And so for that last year I'll live I want to spend it back where i came from in England" she stuttered out
Lily and Jacob only exchange one look before pulling each other in to a tight hug

"When do we leave" lily managed to stutter out "tomorrow as soon as I found out I brought the house back"
"Is that why you sold the shop" her mother nodded

"Goodbye Jacob" she said knowing it would be her last time They shared one last final kiss before Jacob departed

As lily and her mother unlocked the familiar wooden door of there house a feeling took over them of loss what they had missed small heath was the same but the inside of the house was not the walls were painted red and gold wallpaper was laced on the far wall

"Well looks like we've missed a lot" lily dragged her feet around the house not used to the unfamiliar sight of it
"Oh deary me this place will have to be decorated before I die"

"Ma' don't say that" she sighed at the comment dropping her shoulders "you've got a year to live not a day"
"I wish it was a day" lily only tutted ignoring the comment it hurt her to think about how any day she could lose her mother