"Polly, Merry's got an appointment at the hospital," I told her as she came into the house. I couldn't keep the worry from my face or my voice. "She's not been feeling well and she had some bleeding."

"Is she alright?" Polly asked, her lips tilting down as she thought about my sister.

"I'm not sure, but I'd really appreciate it if you came with us," I said, biting my lip as I waited for her rejection. She was a busy person. Why would she make time for two 'orphaned' girls? "We don't have our mother anymore and I know Merry looks up to you, as do I."

"I'll come." She gave me a soft smile to stop my mumbling."When is it?"

"Tomorrow." I could see the conflict in her eyes. Tomorrow was my day off and the day she would tend to the children. It was causing a predicament for us.

"I'll watch the children," Ada said, reminding us that she was here. She was flipping through a letter, which had been sent to her with the arrival of letters for Finn and John's kids. "You have a letter." She held out the letter in our direction, waving the paper in my face.

In a delicate script was my name and I frowned as I took the paper from her, sliding my finger under the flap to open it.

August 3rd, 1916,

Dear Romy,

Thank you for writing to me.

I've received Finn's letter, it's good that he's learning to read and write. You must have your hands full watching John's kids. It'll be good for them to have someone else around the house.

Polly tells me you've begun training as a nurse during your evenings. Surely you don't have the time for that? Sorry, that was rude. I'm sure your training will come in handy if needed.

I think it's selfish of me to just want you safe with my family. I wouldn't wish this on anyone.

Thank you for caring for my family,

Tommy.

"Is it from Tommy?" Polly asked, glancing over my shoulder as she caught sight of her nephew's handwriting.

"Hmm," I muttered, frowning at the letter. He didn't need to write back to me. I wasn't expecting it, I only wrote to him for Finn's sake. I wasn't expecting to receive a letter from him three weeks later.

"Are you gonna write back?" Ada asked, her curiosity getting the best of her.

"Should I? I mean, I only wrote to him for Finn's sake."

"And he wrote back." Ada gave me a pointed look and I was starting to feel that she did this to all her friends. Not that I'd call myself her friend. I'd only been in Small Heath for ten weeks and while knowing her for that long, she'd only recently started speaking to me. "Write back to him."

"I'll think about it, Ada," I muttered, slipping the letter back into the envelope and shoved it into my coat pocket. "I'm taking the children for a walk, we'll be back before dinner."

I felt like the floor had been taken from under my feet.

Why did it seem that everything that could go wrong would?

Polly was quiet as she followed us out of the hospital and Merry, well Merry was distraught. She was cradling her stomach as she fought through her sobs.

"What will you do?"

I knew what Polly meant. She was wondering what Merry would do. There was no questioning what Merry would do. I already knew what she was going to do.

"I'll have my baby, and hopefully, one day a lovely family would adopt him and he will be loved," Merry whispered, running her fingers over her lips as they trembled.

"No," I snapped, grabbing hold of her arm and turning her to face me.

"I am not giving up my child so I can live!" she snapped, pulling away from me, a fury I had never seen in her eyes.

It was thought that Merry had died after delivering Tom due to a broken heart, but now I believed that wasn't true. Especially after what the doctor had explained.

Merry had a weak heart.

It was ironic considering how much she loved muggle Tom Riddle and how much she loved her baby. She was such a caring and loving person, it was evil and made my eyes sting when I thought of the thing that was killing her.

The doctors gave Merry a small chance of surviving the full length of her pregnancy. As the baby grew, it took more energy from her and was draining her life. With every day that her pregnancy continued, her death was growing closer.

"That's not what I meant, Merry! You are not giving that baby up for adoption. I am your sister! Did you really think I would let you do that?" I argued, feeling annoyed that she would even think about putting Tom into an orphanage. I knew we weren't really sisters, but did she think I was going to let her give him away like that because she was dying?

"I can't do that to you." I could see the hidden meaning in her eyes. She wouldn't say it in front of Polly but she was trying to tell me that this wasn't something she was willing to do to me. "You've got so much to achieve. You don't need a baby holding you back. What happens when you finally meet the one? He's not gonna want you if you've got a baby."

"I don't care about that, Merry. I care about you. You're my sister and that baby your carrying is my family. I don't give a fuck if he's going to ruin any chances of marriage I have. I don't care if he's going to hold me back. He is blood and I'm not going to abandon him!"

Mery flung her arms around me, her sobs muffled in my hair as she thanked me. I caught Polly's eyes over Merry's shoulder and saw the misty eyes and the proud smile on her face.

I guess, in a way, she felt sorry for us. And she had experienced the same when Edward was born. Poor Martha hadn't been strong enough after the birth and had only made it three days after Edward's birth before passing on.

Part of me always knew Merry wouldn't make it after the pregnancy.

Even having moved her somewhere comfortable and giving her the nourishment she needed to thrive, I had this nagging feeling that she wasn't supposed to live on. I wanted to say it was the seer in me, that future knowledge licking at the edge of my mind.

Friday 25th August, 1916

Dear Tommy,

I don't know what to say to you.

I was never planning to write back, I only did so for Finn's sake.

Does that make me cruel? You're risking your life for mine and I'm being this cold-hearted bitch.

I bet you're wondering what changed my mind?

Why would I, your family's nanny write to you during the war when I had originally planned to write for the sake of your seven-year-old brother?

Before the war, I was living with my sister while her husband was away fighting in France. He returned to us in late January due to an injury and it wasn't too soon after that when Merry fell pregnant. It should have been exciting news, the life of a child in such horrible and dangerous times, but he didn't think so.

With Merry being three months pregnant he kicked us out of the house and we were left wandering. Fortunately for us, our Uncle Harry lives in Small Heath and he welcomed us into his home.

With his help, we've settled into Small Heath and with inheritance left by our late parents, we've been able to purchase our own house.

I bet you're wondering why you need to know this, right?

Merry's been feeling sick lately and we have been concerned for both her and the baby. Your Aunt Polly came with us to the hospital where we found out that Merry is sick. Her heart can't take too much strain and as the pregnancy progresses, her heart weakens.

At the end of the year, Merry will be dead and I will be a single parent to her child.

How does one continue on living when they know they will no longer have their sister?

Shit. I've done it again.

I've dumped all my shit on you again.

I'm sorry about this, but I needed to let it off my chest and couldn't think of anyone else to talk to.

You don't have to reply, I understand that you want nothing to do with a silly girl when you're in the middle of fighting a war.

Apologies,

Romy

"Romy?" I glanced up as Finn called my name and placed my pen on the desk. He was looking frustrated and holding out a piece of paper to me. "Can you read this?" he asked, thrusting the paper into my hands. I didn't know if he meant as in could I read the letter for him to proofread or if I could read his handwriting.

"It's very good, Finn, you're coming along really well," I said, folding the letter and handing it back to him. "Tommy is going to love it."

"Did you write to him too?"

"Yes. I think it would be nice for him to receive a letter from me every now and then," I told Finn, tilting my head to the side as I heard Edward crying. "Let's get Edward and we can start on dinner."

"I like your house, Romy," Finn said as he followed me upstairs and into the room I had set up for them. Edward was clinging onto the crib, his face red as he cried, reaching out to me.

"'Omy. 'Omy"

"Hey there, Little Bear, why are you crying?" I asked, picking him up and pressing a kiss to his head as he wrapped his arms around my neck. "Come on, pickle, let's go find your siblings."

"They were in the garden with, Merry." I followed Finn out of the room and down the stairs, bumping into him when he suddenly stopped and turned to face me. "Is Merry gonna die?"

"What makes you say that, Finn?"

"I heard Aunt Pol talking to Ada. She said Merry was gonna die when she has her baby."

Finn was a smart boy. I could see in his eyes that he knew what death meant. He knew Merry wasn't going to come back and that the little boy she was carrying was going to have a hole in his heart.

"Sometimes things like this happen, Finn. Like Martha, when she had Edward. It can take a toll on the body when bringing a baby into the world. Merry would do anything to make sure this baby is born." It was hard to explain it to him, he was only seven after all, but he knew what was happening.

"Is that why she can't leave the house? Is it why Aunt Pol brings us to you now?"

"Merry is very sick, Finn. She can't do things that will cause her to get worse. Polly thinks it's best if she stays at home and I'm here to look after her."

"I'm sorry your sister's going to die, Romy," he said, taking my hand in his and giving me a sad smile. "I really like Merry."

"I really like her too," I told him, leaning down and pressing a kiss to his head. "I think you should tell her that, Finn. It'll make her really happy."

Wednesday, 13th September 1916

Dear Romy,

I'm sorry to hear about your sister. She sounds like an amazing woman.

From what I've learned about you, the child will be in capable hands and you will shower them in love. Ada has spoken about your kind heart when it comes to the children, I know you will make a perfect mother to the child.

Your struggle to carry on knowing you won't have your sister is something I go through every day. Any one of these days could be the last time I see John or Arthur.

I dread the day when we are separated on the battlefield. Not knowing where they are or if they survived haunts me during the night.

Spend and cherish your time together while you still can.

My thoughts are with your sister in the upcoming months. Stay strong and go to Polly if you need anything.

She's not as tough as she looks and she loves a newborn.

Tommy.