𝐎𝐍𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐆𝐈𝐑𝐋𝐒 ᶠⁱⁿⁿ ˢʰᵉˡᵇʸ

𝟎𝟎𝟗: 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐛𝐲 𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟗
𝐀 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐛𝐲 𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠

Rory sat staring at the ceiling and listening to the muffled talking from the betting den. It was a family meeting about the explosion at the Garrison she assumed. Not something she cared to be involved in.

Her eyes were sore and her head pounded. Whether that was from the alcohol or her crying she didn't know.

All she wanted was to sleep. All she wanted was to go back in time and have things go completely differently. But Aurora knew that wasn't possible. She knew she had to live with what happened.

The clock on the wall ticked and it had began frustrating her. Squeezing her eyes closed, Aurora dragged her hands across her face. With a sigh, she dragged herself up from the couch and used her hands to flatten her hair.

Pushing the doors open, she was met with the face of Finn and Polly— everybody else had left. "Morning, love. How're you feeling?" Polly asked sympathetically.

Aurora shrugged and threw herself into the chair opposite Finn, holding her head in her hands. "My head hurts, Pol." She complained.

Polly tutted and got up to pour the girl a cup of tea. "It'll be all that rubbish you drank last night. I've told you about this before."

"Yeah yeah." Rory said quickly, not wanting another lecture on how often she drank. It had only gotten worse over the two years. Well.. it got better for a while — months after Freddie had moved to London with Ada. But it didn't take long for the old habits to return.

Finn and Rory.. they were a completely different story. After Aurora had started drinking again, she was hardly around. Finn would often hear her throwing up in the bathroom when she'd drank too much. There were certain occasions where she'd let him in and they'd talk for hours until they fell asleep. They were the moments he cherished most.

"Here you are," Polly placed the cup in front of her. Aurora hummed and wrapped her hands around it.

Polly glared at Finn and nodded toward Aurora, implying that he was to say something. Finn just shrugged and frowned at his Aunt in confusion. "We had Mikey at the door with flowers earlier." Polly said, trying to lighten the mood. "They were quite beautiful."

"That's nice." Aurora responded, her gaze fixed on the table.

Finn and Polly shared a glance and the older woman just shook her head. "Listen, i'm to be going over to the wash house later today. Whilst i'm gone, I need you and Finn to go down to the markets and get me some fruit. I'll give you the money for it." Polly said.

"Why can't Finn just go?"

"It isn't up for discussion." Polly scolded. "You're both going. Together." She said sternly.

Rory sighed in defeat and ran a hand through her hair. "Thanks Rory." Finn scoffed, crossing his arms. "Just when I thought we were getting along." He said jokingly, hoping to make her smile.

Rory let out a pathetic laugh and slouched in the chair.

-

The cold, winter air made Rory's skin burn as her and Finn walked through the markets. She hugged her coat to her body and kicked a stone. "We can go to the canal after this. Just like we used to." He offered.