I Want To Tell You

Part 1- Her

June 16, 1943

Wails filled the air. She squeezed her husbands hand tightly.

"Push, Mrs. Winthrop, the baby's almost here!" The midwife held Amelia's legs, preparing herself for any changes in pace.

Amelia screamed and cried. "Darling you're doing amazing," Her husband, Thomas, pushed her hair away from her sweaty face. She flashed a wavered smile at him before crying once more.

Amelia gasped suddenly and the room went quiet.

"What's going on?! Is she okay?!" Thomas began to panic, looking to the midwife for answers.

Suddenly small cried filled the air, Thomas and Amelia sighed and smiled at one another in relief.

The midwife held the baby in her arms, "everything is fine, you are the mummy and daddy of a gorgeous baby girl." She handed the baby to Thomas.

He stared at the baby in awe. He breathed heavily and smiled at Amelia. "She's perfect," he whispered.

Thomas handed the baby to Amelia. She smiled and tears welled in her eyes. "Hello, darling."

The baby cooed at Amelia as she kissed her on the forehead.

"Have you chosen a name yet, ma'am?" The midwife asked Amelia.

She smiled at Thomas, "Yes, we have, Rosemarie Evelyn Winthrop." She ran her fingers along the perimeter of her baby's face, smiling at her.

"It's beautiful," Thomas whispered and smiled again, letting out a soft giggle.

-

Months had gone by and Thomas and Amelia couldn't be happier. Their baby girl was growing healthier and stronger every day.

But, little did this tiny family know, a dark shadow was slowly creeping it's way into their lives.

Rosemarie was born on the edge of the Second World War. Along with every other young male in the country, her father, Thomas, had to sign up for the draft.

As Thomas was going through his physical to man the troops, the doctor discovered a tumor in his chest the size of a cherry.

That day, the doctor bid Thomas "good luck" and "God be with you".

The tumor was cancerous, and growing. Thomas never told Amelia.

About a month later is when the two discovered that they were expecting.

Thomas was both elated and terrified.

April 19, 1944

Today, he sits with his wife and child in their quaint Brighton home.

The house was small, newly rebuilt after the rummages of the war. It was located a story above a post office, meaning it was never quiet during the day and the traffic around the building never seemed to stop.

Rosemarie was barely ten months old when Thomas had an interesting revelation.

"Darling," he exclaimed, gaining his wife's attention, "we're moving."

Amelia quickly looked up from her knitting needles to her husband, holding her daughter, "I beg your pardon?"

"We 'ought to move house." Thomas declared.

Amelia started at him, wide eyed. "Whatever for?" She trailed off, still awaiting the point of Thomas's declaration.

He set baby Rosie down in her bassinet before speaking to Amelia, "Darling," a seriousness was added to his tone as he knelt in front of her, "I'm dying."

Amelia's face sharpened, "Thomas, if this is another one of your pranks, it isn't funny."

He sat down on the sofa beside her and intertwined his fingers with hers.

"Thomas, stop." Amelia stood from her spot, jerking her hand away. Warm tears began to run down her rosy cheeks.

Her husband looked up at her hopelessly.

"What's Happened?" Amelia sobbed, and her hands quickly flew to cover her mouth.

"I've cancer, love." Thomas winced at the phrase and seeing his wife's cries grow worse.

She still kept a hand over her mouth as she lowered herself to the floor. She fell to her elbows and Thomas rushed to her side.

He held her in his arms as she cried. It lasted about an hour before she was calm enough to muster up some words.

"What are we going to do?" Her voice hitched in her throat as she held back more tears.

"There's a doctor in Liverpool." Thomas whispered into Amelia's hair.

"We'll move," she cried, "we'll move right now. We don't have much. We can pack tonight and get a train tomorrow. We can stay in a hotel until we find a flat. We have to move right now." The tears on her face began to dry the more she got worked up.

"It'll be alright," Thomas held his wife tightly and sighed into her hair.

The baby cooed from her bassinet and babbled gibberish. The poor thing had no idea what was to come.

Amelia stood from the floor and dusted herself off. She sniffled once more before patting her face dry with her handkerchief.

"I love you." She sniffled while bringing Thomas into a warm embrace.

"We're going to make this better," Thomas said and he rubbed her back.