𝐆𝐚𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐲

"OI, POL! LOOK WHO'S HERE!" Polly heard a young Finn Shelby shout.

As she rose her head from the kitchen table, she gazed at the door of their home on Watery Lane.

This house was Marie's home, where the laughter happened and she could rest at the end of the day. From the street it is bricks and mortar topped with tile, the same as any other. Yet if you step inside you'll feel it's so different, a place where the lungs choose to fill a little deeper and the heart beat a little steadier.

Polly turned, but too slowly to be normal. When she spoke her voice trailed slowly, like her words were unwilling to take flight. There was a sadness in her eyes, the brown too glossy.

"Oh my Lord." She rose a shaky hand to cover her mouth.

"Marie Brown is that you?" She asked softly.

"Hi Pol." she smiled lightly.

The older woman ran forward, almost tripping over herself on her way.

As soon as they met them embraced, a slow smile spread over Pollys hardly gaunt features.

Pulling apart Polly studied the young woman.

"My God look at how perfect you are." She whispered, more to herself than the other two people in the room.

"It's nice to see you too Pol." She told them woman giggling to herself.

"Where are the kids?" John asked interrupting the moment.

"Oh sorry love, they're up the stairs. Kids? Your fathers home!" She shouted to the children.

Soon enough the pitter-patter of feet were heard running down the stairs.

"Dad!" Marie heard many children shout.

"Marie these are my ones. The eldest Katie, second eldest Simon and the twins Rosie and Harry."

"It's a pleasure." Marie said bending down to shake the children's hand.

John watched the scene before him unfold. He saw how his children looked at Marie with admiration and how she in return looked at them with nothing but love. John knew himself there was no perfect lover, everyone was flawed, but knowing those flaws and still loving with all your heart creates perfect love. John would never look further than Marie. If his heart was a flower waiting to bloom, he knew her love was the only sunshine it needed.