The Orphan's Letters by Glynis Peters

Author:Glynis Peters [Peters, Glynis]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780008492403
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Chapter Twenty-Two

A few days later, Kitty stood on the edge of the cliff after shift and let the wind blow her hair from her face. She released loving thoughts of – and to – Michael on the wind and let peace wrap itself around her tired body and mind. Their farewell sat like a heavy stone inside her chest, and she mourned his leaving as much as if Michael had died.

Loud church bells rang out for the first time since 1940 and were celebrated by everyone except herself. Prime Minister Churchill announced the ringing of the bells for that day only, as an announcement of victory, but Kitty heard them as a personal win for the enemy. With the news of the Eighth Army, nicknamed The Desert Rats, forging forward in its fight, Michael’s main aim became rejoining his unit. Before she had time to absorb the information, he was confirmed medically fit and had secured his flight for that morning, leaving her to stand on British soil, alone, and, yet again, waiting for news. Although a breakthrough had been made against Hitler’s defences, the war abroad was far from over and Kitty felt abandoned. She knew it was selfish, but the joy of others did nothing to help her feel uplifted, and she could not bring herself to join Jo and others in their celebrations. She volunteered to cover another nurse’s shift. Her fight was against pain and death, and her victory celebrations were recorded as survival against the odds when she wrote on patient notes.

As the weeks drifted closer to Christmas, in some ways, Kitty wished Michael had never come home without it being permanent; their parting had come at a price – her mind tormented her not only when she slept, but during the daytime. Each man brought into the ward with devastating injuries wore Michael’s face. She nursed them as if they were him, then mourned their leaving, either as a living patient or a man in a box, in the same way. Kitty’s torment sat inside her body like a stone, but she shared her feelings with no one, not even Jo. She joined in with parties and dances, always volunteering for anything connected with children, and wrote letters to Trix, her family, Meryn and Wenna each week, and sent Michael her love every day without fail. Her laughter was fake; nothing in life made her smiles true ones.

Kitty made her life circular and protected by not allowing the outside world to pull her true feelings from her body and offer her nothing but false hope. Her aim was to see out 1942 tending to those who were alone and afraid, not dance until her feet ached; they would ache with the burden of serving her country during its time of need. Kitty focused her mind on everything but what might be happening to Michael and on her own desire to be strong for when he did return home. Whenever the word if came into her thoughts, she pushed against it hard until when had the stronger hold.

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