Sunday, 19 & Monday, 20 December, 1943 - Grace’s letter

Nurses Home

General Hospital​​​​​​​​(83)

Nottingham

19-12-43​​

 

My Very Own Darling,

 

I am starting this letter at 2.30 a/m but as I am expecting Sister to appear any moment –

 

20-12-43

Yes Sister did arrive and I was unable to get back to my letter.  As I am not very busy to-night I should manage to write it now without further interruption.

 

In your last sea letter Darling you said that even though we had been separated for so many months they had been happy ones.  I agree with you – they have.  As I write this I realise that it is just over ten months since I last saw you.  We were a miserable pair that last day together.

 

I bet you remember – I was very optimistic and said that you might only be away a year.  You said that you would probably be away two years or even longer.  I wonder who will be right?  It cannot be too soon for me and I am sure that it cannot be for you.

 

In the last ten months your letters have come to mean such a lot to me.  Our letters have brought us very close together haven’t they Darling?  I realised that I loved you before you went away but I love you more than ever as each day goes by – if that is possible.

 

I cannot imagine what life would be like if I did not know that you are coming back to me, Darling.  If only we could see each other again for ten minutes!  But then, that would not do because when we do meet again I want it to be – for always.

 

How I am looking forward to that day – when we meet again.  To feel again the thrill of your arms around me and to hear you say “I love you”.  I like to dream about that day, dear, don’t you?

 

I suppose that I ought to try and make this letter newsy but tell you the truth – there is no fresh news to tell you.

 

I am not looking forward to Christmas very much – this year.

 

Last year I did because it meant that it would soon be January and that meant being with you.

 

However, I suppose that Christmas being over it will soon be January again and it will mean being nearer to seeing you.

 

This ward too is inclined to be depressive.  January of course will bring me more nights off and that means a rest and a change.

 

Do you know the date that my next lot of nights off commence on? – the sixth!  Yes exactly one year since that memorable day when I phoned Matron and informed her that I could not go back.  I often wonder if she really believed my story.

 

I am hoping that it will not be as cold as it was last year.  We are having some very cold weather now and we have had a few sharp spells of frost.  I suppose that as it is December we cannot expect anything else.

 

There is one bit of news that I brought back with me from Grimethorpe, though it may not interest you.

 

It is that sometime during next March I shall have another cousin.  My Aunt Hilda (Mrs Cuthbert) is expecting a baby.  She is nearly 43 so I do not envy her.  We poor women – what we have to put up with!

 

And now my Darling, as the clock says 2.30 a.m. the 21st I will have to say Au-Revoir.  There is work to be done.

 

All my love, Precious.  Yours Grace   xxxxxxxx