"Come now lass, it be just a dream, don't be fretting now, have a sip, there's a girl"
The bed creaked under the strain of the fat cook sat upon the end of it, the much thinner girl propped up by the womans cuddle around her shoulder and the pillows stacked against the headboard. The warm milk was soothing and the room was dark save the small candle above the bed, lit and casting long shadows around the room.
"It's real though ain't it? I mean, I am just a patient and all. Ever since I left, he just goes on, and on about how it be all my fault, how he just meant me to leave for the night, he don't ever want to admit what he did upset me, or that I told him I were staying with Ma and Pa because he were so busy! He don't care why these things be happening, he ain't ever cared, I'm just an experiment like something he be prodding and looking at, I would have been better dead, he could have cut me open then, had a good look!"
Jackilyn wiped an emerging tear from her eye with a swipe of her finger, the old woman cuddling her some more.
"Hush dear, hush, you'll wake him. Never let a lad see they've upset you, drink a bit more now, there's a good girl"
"I don't want your bloody drink! I don't want to be here! I'm going home."
"Oh really? and what good will that do? You told me you and him might be trying again. Can't try if you be all the way off with your Ma and Pa, I know your Pa ain't too happy at the moment, almost losing his only daughter and started because of some thoughtless words by the lad."
"Trying, all I bloody do is try, try and please them, please him! Making everyone so blimming happy all the time. Don't work there Jackie dear, don't be in a mood Miss Jackilyn, mood? He ain't seen me bloody moods! It's time for you to leave! He said that! Who says that to a lass that be sharing a bed with them? Aye, didn't exactly sleep in it together but even so!"
Mrs Denton cleared her throat with a mutter of..
"Some things best kept to yourselves deary. You're upset, you're only just pulling through, and the lad? Well, I know you can't choose when it comes to love, but, it might have been better if you could of, better all round, he's a difficult one."
She gave up, she let the tears roll down over her rosy cheeks and hung her head, it thumping with the hot blood pulsing quickly through her, her voice breaking not with the illness, but with pure, unbridled emotion
"I don't care if he's strange, I never cared he were strange. I didn't care that he didn't cuddle me much, or kiss me much, didn't care that all he did were read, I cared that he didn't eat, I cared that he didn't drink or sleep, I cared when he'd be getting so frustrated with everything, when Miss Sol were almost dead from what he tried...I told him..told him I wanted him, but he would have to want me back. I don't want someone who don't care about me, even if..even if I care about them."
The plump, pillowy bosom was soon occupied by the girls cheek, the material of the womans dress soon damp with tears. Chubby fingers gently stroked through the girls chestnut hair. Jackilyns sobs calmed slightly, her sniffles an ugly sound.
"There there, you'll undo all the healing you've done if you carry this on. Now, lay yourself down, be morning proper soon. Don't think of a thing other than getting yourself well. What you've been through ain't exactly a little thing you know, we could have easily lost you lass"
Jackilyn laid upon her side, the warm milk taken by the cook to be set at the nightstand, her only response being..
"Maybe..for the best"
