Tired. She was…so tired. And Saffy knew she wasn’t the only one of her family who were struggling. Practically everyone was pitching in, working extra hours where they could in order to make payments to the hospital on time for Papa’s treatment. Her back hurt. Her limbs hurt. She was strung out. It felt like at any point she would burst into tears at the slightest inconvenience. There were times when she had broken down into tears, but most of those where when she had time after work to lock herself in a broom closet at work and succumb to the grief. She had been able to cry a little with her sisters. When she was with Mia or Amber, but she hadn’t wanted to burden Tess or Sage with anything else. She could see the toll it was taking on them.
Today was a little better. She’d had her tears yesterday in her typical obliging broom closet back at the Ministry (and maybe once again earlier this afternoon), before making the trip over to sit with her father. She could see him doing his best at keeping his spirit up, but she knew their visits wore him out. So in an effort to make it easier on him, Saffron had brought a book to read to him, which helped to kill two birds with one stone (perhaps not the best phrase to think of when one’s father is in the hospital for an illness): they got to spend time together but Papa didn’t have to exert himself by talking so much. He could merely enjoy the story and even fall asleep if he needed to.
After he’d fallen asleep, Saffron put the book down and decided to go fetch a cup of tea, remembering that the room had been stocked with a particularly good brand of chamomile that sounded rather soothing for her vocal chords. She had shooed her sisters away for the night, insisting they go home and get some sleep. It took her a few moments to make it to the tea room, but by now Saffron had the route memorized. Once she’d even counted the steps in her head; 394 steps if she was moving slowly, which today she was. Walking into the room, Saffron barely looked around before making a beeline for the trays the staff had left out. She took solace in the routine of making a cup. Someone had just made hot water so it didn’t take long to reheat. Saffy took a teabag from the chamomile tin, dropping it in with a dollop of honey and watched as the hot water melted the golden threads around the inside of the cup.
With a yawn she turned around, cup and saucer in hand and sat down at a free table.
Today was a little better. She’d had her tears yesterday in her typical obliging broom closet back at the Ministry (and maybe once again earlier this afternoon), before making the trip over to sit with her father. She could see him doing his best at keeping his spirit up, but she knew their visits wore him out. So in an effort to make it easier on him, Saffron had brought a book to read to him, which helped to kill two birds with one stone (perhaps not the best phrase to think of when one’s father is in the hospital for an illness): they got to spend time together but Papa didn’t have to exert himself by talking so much. He could merely enjoy the story and even fall asleep if he needed to.
After he’d fallen asleep, Saffron put the book down and decided to go fetch a cup of tea, remembering that the room had been stocked with a particularly good brand of chamomile that sounded rather soothing for her vocal chords. She had shooed her sisters away for the night, insisting they go home and get some sleep. It took her a few moments to make it to the tea room, but by now Saffron had the route memorized. Once she’d even counted the steps in her head; 394 steps if she was moving slowly, which today she was. Walking into the room, Saffron barely looked around before making a beeline for the trays the staff had left out. She took solace in the routine of making a cup. Someone had just made hot water so it didn’t take long to reheat. Saffy took a teabag from the chamomile tin, dropping it in with a dollop of honey and watched as the hot water melted the golden threads around the inside of the cup.
With a yawn she turned around, cup and saucer in hand and sat down at a free table.