There stood my Delia, before me. Except, it appeared she wasn't my Delia anymore. She looked at me, those blue eyes turning icy shades of grey. I'd always worried about losing Delia but never like this, never to another woman.
It had been 7 months since I'd seen the woman I loved, but it felt like years. She was thinner and her face more angular. She'd aged in the time I was gone.
The blonde woman she was with looked at Delia and all the hurt in her eyes and her tears. She took her hand protectively.
"Patsy" a faint whisper escaped her lips. Her Welsh voice was so full of pain that it made my heart break all over again. I stepped closer to her and there was nothing I wanted more than to take her hands and kiss her.
"Where have you been?" She said quietly. I turned to give the blonde women my best stare.
"Could you give us a moment please."
She looked at Delia who nodded.
"Ok darling, I'll be round the corner" Both Delia and me flinched at her words.
"You clearly moved on from me quickly" I whispered.
"No.." she said, begging me to believe her. "We only met tonight"
I shook my head. "She called you darling" I said wiping my tears away.
"Don't you dare!" Anger rose making her welsh accent stronger. "You left. With no explanation. Was I supposed to wait around forever?!"
"I'm sorry Delia, I'm so so sorry"
"So where have you been. I think you owe me that much."
"It would appear that I don't, owe you anything anymore" I said looking at the blonde women, who was making her way back over.
"I think you need to go" she said resting her hand on Delia's shoulder. With each touch, it was like a knife to my heart.
Delia looked at me heart broken.
"Come on, I'll walk you home" she said taking Delia's hand.
"Goodbye Patsy." I leaned forward and kissed Delia on the cheek.
"Goodbye Delia" and that was it, the moment my heart truly shattered.
As they walked away hand in hand, I wondered, was it because she gave her things I wouldn't. Did things I wouldn't, held hands where people might see her. She acted lovingly towards Delia when she didn't know I was like them.
Was it because she took risks, that she took my Delia from me.
---
I returned to my old position at Nonnatus House. The nurses were welcoming and nobody questioned me. My routine was the same minus the loving stares and midnight trips across the hall.
We'd had the odd awkward encounter over the past few days, but each time I saw her, my heart broke again.
A few weeks after I arrived, I was on a night shift when there was a knock at the door. I looked at the clock 10:03.
I opened the door only to find the blonde women standing before me.
"I'm here for Delia, only do you mind if I wait inside its quite rainy out here" she said and before I could answer she stepped past me.
Once we got in the light I could see her properly and she could see me.
"Oh, its you. Patsy isn't it." I nodded.
"I'm Jacqueline. I umm didn't realise you were staying in the same house as my Delia."
Her words were killing me slowly.
"I'll go get Delia" I said quickly trying to make my escape.
"No" she said grabbing my arm.
"Get off me" I whispered harshly.
"You know, your quite beautiful"
"Don't you dare, you took my gir- you took her from me" I said angrily wiping away the steady flow of tears.
She stepped closer.
"You left her, you just up and went"
"You know nothing about what happened"
"I know that you've left more than once. But this time she's got me to keep her away from going back to you."
"You know nothing" there was a movement from the stairs and Delia was stood at the bottom of them.
"And neither do I Patsy"
"Delia..." My voice hitched at the back of my throat. She looked so beautiful. She had her hair loose and a beautiful olive dress on.
"Is that... is that my dress?" I asked.
"No... I had my father make it, because it looked so good on you" she blushed
"I've got to go." I said pushing past Jacqueline and out the front door.
