Lady Of The Island

The Final Visit

We spent the rest of the day at the harbour, chatting and resting with the engines. We taught Rawlinson to play poker properly, Azure infodumped about botany to Derek - who was very interested. Clarence played a game of hide and seek with Lavender.
It was...wholesome.
It was a nice change from prior events.

However, I knew there was one final visit I had to make, one I had been putting off.
It was the only thing I could think about as I stood alone behind the shed in the cold.

"Are you okay?" Azure slowly appeared from around the corner. "I noticed you slipped away a bit ago...what is wrong?"

"Hm? Oh, hey..." I rested my head on his shoulder as he drew closer. "Just thinking..."

"About what?"

I didn't respond. I just sighed.

"If you do not want to talk about it, I won't pressure it out of you. I'll wait until you're ready, as you always have done for me." He adjusted his well-fitting, and pretty attractive, glasses.

"Wait."

He didn't withdraw.
"Hm?"

"I need to visit Burnett in hospital." I brushed his hair. "But....It feels awkward. I got through conversing with Ruth, but...I just don't know, this feels different."

"If you want me by your side, I will always be there for you."

"I know.." I pulled away and took a deep breath. "I think I should do this alone, is that okay?"

"Of course." Azure smiled. "Someone needs to look after Lavender, after all."

"Where is she, actually?"

"She passed out on Clarence's buffers. The coffee has caught up to her, it seems." He laughed. His laugh was just as sweet as his appearence. "Do not be too long with Burnett though, I need to talk to you about something."

"Baby, why can't we talk now?" I playfully tapped his chest.

"Because it is important, very important and we need to be in a specific place to talk about it." He grinned and kissed me quickly. "Off you go, then."

I watched him leave and thought for a moment.
What's so serious that he needs a specific place to talk?
I felt...concerned.
Did I do something wrong?
Was he losing interest?
Did he find someone else while I was here?
These thoughts fueled my mind as I walked over to Becca.

"Oh! There you are!" Becca grinned. "Azure was just..." She trailed off. "What's up?"

"I need you to take me to Wellsworth Hospital. I need to visit Burnett and check up on him. According to his daughter-"

"You spoke to his daughter?" She asked.

"Yeah, she works at the hospital, why?"

"I didn't know she was here - continue, anyway."

"According to her, Burnett has been recovering well. I just need to make sure he's okay, well, mentally after all of that."

"Ah, right. Yes, Yes, Jump in!"

I quickly jumped into her cab and we drove off into the setting sky.

***

Wellsworth Hospital.
What is there to say about it?
It's in the most inconvinient place, the gates are rusty, and it's not accessable fully by engine.
Becca had to drop me off at Wellsworth station, where I had to catch a bus to the hospital.