I'm Sorry, Do I Know You..?

Chapter 8 - Patsy

Wha..wh...what?? Is she insane?? This is madness, this could get us both exploited, fired and left on the streets! This could end everything! However, despite all of that I still find myself kissing her back. Oh, how I've missed this, missed her.

The kiss seemingly lasts forever, and I have no objections. The fears, the worries, are all caught up between us and appear in the form of tears rolling down my cheeks, and I'd rather she didn't see. Inevitably, though, we pull apart.

Her face dramatically changes when she sees the tears on my cheeks, and she begins apologising. "Patsy...Pats? I...I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have —." My anxiety cuts her off.    "People could have seen! I expect they probably did! And if we get reported then that's my career - and yours, as a matter of fact - down the drain." It's unfair on her, but I'm in complete shock and can't stop myself, nor can I finish my sentence properly. Unfortunately. Very unfortunately.
     "I'm sorry, Patsy. It was foolish of me, and unforgivable. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." She finishes her apology, and swiftly pivots on her heels and walks away. Why am I such an idiot. Patience Mount, I may be you but I strongly dislike you.

Oh, I can't leave it like this.
"Delia...Delia!" I need to make this right. She stops and slowly turns back.
"Oh Delia, I didn't finish. What I was going to say was..." The waterworks are on again and they won't stop. "I wouldn't mind - losing my job, you know - if it meant I could be with you. You mean the world to me and I never, ever want to lose you again." Have I said too much? She's crying now. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN??
Then she speaks.
"Oh, Pats, all these months I was away, I remembered nothing but the back of your head. As soon as I saw you tonight, I remembered everything. I feel so guilty that I just disappeared, leaving everything, leaving you, and having no idea. I'd quite happily lose everything to be with you. I love you." That slightly startles me; we've never said it out loud before. We always wrote it down, and I think we both felt it, but we never, ever said it. I know she means it, though.
"I love you too, Delia Busby." And I know I mean it too.