sabrina. peaky blinders

five

five

home, mid 1919

The Garrison was always a familiar place. The warmth of its wooden beams, the low hum of conversation, and the clinking of glasses had a way of grounding Sabrina, despite the ever-present chaos that sometimes swirled around Small Heath. The pub was busy but not overcrowded when Sabrina and Betty arrived, and the usual crowd of locals settled into their comfortable routines. It was a Thursday evening, the kind of time when everyone was unwinding after a long day's work, yet still early enough for the energy to be more relaxed than the raucous weekend nights.

Betty led the way through the room, her laughter carrying over the chatter. She knew everyone here; her loud voice and quick wit made her easily recognised, even in a place full of familiar faces. Sabrina, on the other hand, was quieter, moving with purpose beside her sister. She took in the scene as they walked to a table by the window: a few working men sipping their pints, some familiar women from the neighbourhood gossiping in the corner, and Harry behind the bar, wiping down the counter.

Sabrina's eyes scanned the room, her attention moving like a current, skimming over the moments happening around her. There was something about the familiar noise and chaos of the pub that settled her, even if she felt disconnected from much of it. It was one of those rare moments where she could slip into the background, just a part of the crowd, without needing to be the centre of attention.

Betty, in contrast, was already deep into conversation with one of the men at the bar, laughing loudly as she playfully scolded him for not getting her drink right. Sabrina couldn't help but smile at her sister's antics. Betty was boisterous in a way that Sabrina could never quite emulate, but in a way, she envied that freedom. The loud, gregarious energy that seemed to pour out of Betty made her the life of the room. Sabrina, however, preferred her corner, quietly absorbing everything around her. Tonight, she wasn't in the mood for the bustle, but she found herself relaxing in Betty's presence; something about the way Betty could talk to anyone with ease had a way of lightening her mood.

Betty slid into the chair across from Sabrina, nudging her slightly to get her attention. "Oh, you should've heard what Arthur did last week," she started, leaning forward, her voice full of animated excitement. "He nearly knocked over the cart in the market because he thought someone was trying to steal his wallet. Turns out, it was just an old lady trying to buy vegetables. The look on his face was priceless."

Sabrina chuckled, her lips curling up into a smile as she listened. "Sounds like him," she said, her voice quieter, but no less affectionate.

"God, I swear, you could drop a brick on Arthur's foot, and he'd still be grinning like an idiot," Betty continued, eyes dancing with mischief. "But you should've seen him try to apologise. Told the old lady he was just 'protecting the integrity of the market.'" She snorted in laughter. "Integrity of the market, my arse."

Sabrina couldn't help but laugh at the image of Arthur, all bluster and charm, trying to explain away his actions. Though their brother wasn't the sharpest in the family, his heart was in the right place. It was the kind of story that was impossible not to laugh at, especially in Betty's retelling.

Betty took a sip of her drink, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "But enough about Arthur, what's going on with you, huh? You've been quiet lately. Still nursing that headache from France, or is it something else?"

Sabrina was quiet for a moment, the lighthearted atmosphere of the pub contrasting sharply with the weight she carried in her chest. It wasn't just the memories from the war that still clung to her, it was the feeling of being caught between wanting to help and feeling like an outsider in her own home. Sabrina couldn't quite put her finger on it, but she'd been carrying tension ever since returning to Small Heath. The war had changed everything, and while people tried to move on, Sabrina couldn't shake the feeling that nothing would ever be quite the same.