𝐖𝐎𝐌𝐀𝐍 𝐎𝐅 𝐖𝐇𝐈𝐓𝐄 𝗉𝖾𝖺𝗄𝗒 𝖻𝗅𝗂𝗇𝖽𝖾𝗋𝗌

ii. c o m e h o m e

t h e   w o m e n   o f   w h i t e
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act one — two
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1918

flourishes of white mesh

and silk blew gently amongst the winter winds. light chocolate tendrils gently caressed blushed cheeks as they escaped the pure silk cloth that covered her hair. her heels clicked delicately, almost like a melody, against the cobbled stone of small heath's streets. a long rush of murmurs jumped from mouth to mouth as they watched the women walk. it seemed as if her presence froze the streets as silence fell upon everyone's ears; the only noise was the roaring fire of the factories.

her nimble fingers were curled around a envelope as she held the item close upon her chest. a million eyes traced the girl as she kept a straight posture and strong stride towards the only place worth visiting in small heath. the garrison.

the doors of the pub were heavy creating a harsh slam after her entrance. a piece of white mesh covered her face creating a thick tension through out the garrison. every man and women new who the women was but never had been this close. slowly she lifted the white mesh, revealing her angelic face. their were a few gasps as her dark, almost black eyes, scanned over each and every face. "i'm looking for polly gray." her voice was strong and loud against the quiet of the room. yet it was soft and gentle, not demanding, as it rung through the locals ears.

no one dared utter a response as they stared with wide eyes up at the women. she was beautiful, that much was obvious, but funnily enough that wasn't the appeal. the brunette women radiated a soft enigma making every man lurch to know the girl and every women envious to be her.

there was a soft bang from the snug within the garrison. the women of white's eyes flickered over to the door. standing in the frame of the door was a man. unfamiliar to edith but known widely amongst small heath. smoke danced around him as he pulled the cigarette from his lips, icy eyes ran along the women in front of him.

his stare was unsettling but didn't penetrate the strange women nearly as much as thomas had hoped. still she stood, a coy smile pulled to her plump lips, black eyes trailing him just as he did her. everyone in the garrison waited for word exchange but it never came. thomas turned his head back into the private room before facing the women in white once more. taking one last drag and releasing the smoke past his pink lips. her eyes never left his figure as he passed her, his figure towering over hers as he passed, and the door slammed shut behind him.

just as she turned to face the room once more her black eyes caught sight of the women she needed. there, where thomas once stood, was polly gray. a harsh scowl painted to her face as she looked upon the women in front of her. "edith dawson, do my eyes deceive me." mused the elder women. although her words were quiet a deaf man would be able to hear the spite within them.

the garrison erupted in more murmurs as they learned their ghosts name. polly knew exactly what she was doing and it made edith slightly chuckle under her breath. "i got your letter." she responded holding up the tainted white paper with her name scribbled on the front.

polly felt a smile grace her lips as she watched the girl in front of her. "we should talk under less ears." she stated her dark eyes, similar to edith's, glaring daggers towards the residents of the pub. like a switch being flicked the men and women of the pub scurried to the door; escaping the harsh tension. even the bar-man choose to leave. once polly was comfortable with the privacy they shared she took the letter from edith's hands. "i don't suppose you got the other ten i sent." inquired the elder women as her eyes carefully watched edith.

edith hesitated with her words, not exactly sure which would be the best way to talk to polly. with a small sigh the petite women pulled the silk scarf from her head, letting her light brown hair fall down like melted chocolate, and taking a seat next to polly at the bar. "yes, i got them." her reply was simple and she could see the hot rage fill her friends eyes quickly. "it was not time to return home, instead i burnt the letters, ran to new york, got a degree." edith listed her adventures briefly whilst pulling a cigarette from the tin up on the bar counter.

just as she placed the stick between her lips polly flicked the match. her eyes bored into edith and past the anger was sadness. "i needed you." she breathed out, tears lining her dark eyes. "four bloody years, edith. you disappeared, wouldn't even visit the grave, i was worried sick." polly fumed as she watched her god-daughter's stoic expression. "your mother would have my head if she knew what you'd been up to." the last words were muttered under the elder women's breath.

edith heard them though and a swell of sadness bloomed through her stomach. "i'm sorry, pol." the apology came as a shock to the elder women. a frown creased between her dark brows as she watched soft tears gather on edith's eyes. "being here, it was like drowning, and being in that house -" her words were cut off as her jaw clenched and hot tears left tracks down her cheeks.

polly was quick to pull the girl tightly into her chest, her own tears falling. her hands ran down edith's back soothingly; just like a mother would. "it's time to come home, edith." she cooed gently as she pleaded with the girl in her arms. pulling away her warm hands cupped both sides of her god-daughters face. "please, edith. it's what your mother wanted, for us to be together as a family." polly was desperate to get edith back and the girl could tell.

it broke her heart to see her god-mother this distraught. polly had always been good to edith and she'd missed the warmth the women radiated. for a split second she felt just as if she was in her own mother's arms. "it's time to come home." edith repeated brokenly as another tear broke down her face. with urgency polly pulled the younger women into her once more.

the women of white was home and now she was more then a mear ghost story; she was edith dawson.