**Diary Entry**
The rain pattered against the windowpane, streaks of water trailing down like silent tears. Valerie sat by the sill, listening to Vera Lynns Well Meet Again, though she barely registered the tears on her own cheeks. That song always did this to herdragged up memories shed rather forget.
Some wounds never fully heal. When life leaves you powerless, you cling to whatever comfort you can find, even in old melodies.
Valerie had settled in a small market town, the sort where everyone knew each others business. Shed come from a village to train as a nurse and never left.
Dont come back after your studies, her mother had said. Not because we dont want you, but theres nothing for you here. The young all leave. Find a good lad in town, settle down.
I know, Mum, shed replied. Its just hard leaving you. But I suppose its time to stand on my own feet.
So Valerie stayed, working at the local hospital. She was prettythick chestnut hair, blue eyes, lips that drew glances. One morning, as she entered the mens ward with an IV drip, she noticed a new patient, his arm in a cast, watching her with undisguised interest.
Morning, she greeted the room, but Matthew swore it was meant just for him.
Hed been admitted overnight, some accident at the factory where he workedthe towns biggest employer. Fresh out of university, hed been posted there as a junior engineer, only to slip on the factory floor, arms flailing, landing hard. A broken wrist, the result.
Valerie set up his drip, deft and efficient. He was silent, studying her, already plotting how to get to know her better. She pretended not to notice, though she stole glances of her own.
There, all done. Just rest, she said, turning to leave.
Will you come back? he blurted. Andwhats your name?
Valerie. And yes, Ill be backits my job, she replied, slipping out.
*Valerie.* He grinned. Maybe this injury wasnt so bad after all.
She liked him too, though shed never show it first. But his lingering stares gave him away.
*Still,* she thought, *handsome lads like him dont stay single long.*
She watched his visitorsmates from work, colleaguesbut no girlfriends. A relief. Meanwhile, Matthew daydreamed of walks together once he was discharged.
Hed linger in the corridor when she took too long between rounds, and soon they were stealing chats by the nurses station.
Im not from here, he told her. Got assigned to the factory after uni. Lived in digs at first, but theyve given me a flat now. Needs work, but its mine.
Lucky, she said. Im stuck in staff housing. Its lively.
When he was discharged, he still visited the clinic for check-ups, but now they met properlywalks, teas, stolen moments. Yet two years passed before he finally proposed, casual as anything:
Val, weve been at this long enough. Lets get married.
Alright, she said, laughing, relieved.
The wedding was simpleher mum came from the village, his sisters from up north. A modest do, but happy. Her friends sighed, envious.
Youve landed a proper catchclever, handsome, *and* attentive.
They moved into his two-bedroom flat, fixed it up together, had two daughters.
Id like a son, hed say, but Valerie was done. Two was enough.
Life was good. Decent wages, holidays at the seaside, summers in her villagemushroom picking, river swims, helping with haymaking. Winters brought sledging trips. No hint of trouble ahead.
Then work soured. Matthews job demanded odd hours, call-ins on weekends. One evening, he stormed in, exhausted.
Im quitting. Sick of being dragged in on my days off.
His boss fought to keep himhe was brilliantbut Matthew switched jobs, though it meant travel.
Sorry, love. More money, but Ill be away some nights.
Well manage, she said.
Years passed. The trips grew longerthree days, sometimes a week. Then Valerie noticed changes. He drank more, came home late, grew sharp.
Fifteen years in, she confronted him.
Matt, whats got into you? You never used to be like this.
Piss off. Lifes dull. Im having fun.
Small towns talk. A workmate, Tracy, tipped her off.
Val, youve not noticed? Your Matts a right lad. My mate Rachels been seeing himsauna nights, the lot. He stops at hers after work trips.
Valerie felt sick. Others confirmed it. They rowed.
Enough of your snooping! hed snap.
The final straw came when he hit her.
I want a divorce, she said, numb.
As he packed, Vera Lynns voice floated from the telly: *Well meet again* The words cut deep.
Im leaving, he said, calm. Flats yours and the girls. Youve nowhere else.
The door clicked shut. She thought she had no tears left. She was wrong.
Time passed. Valerie filed for divorce.
*What am I now? Not a wife, not a widow.*
Some pitied her; others feigned sympathy, likely gossiping behind her back. But she endured.
Years later, the girls grew. The eldest married, moved away. The youngest vowed never to leave her.
Mum, Id not let you be lonely.
Lifes a funny thing, Valerie said. What if you meet someone?
She did.
Mum, you called it! her daughter laughed. Paul proposed. Were marrying!
Valerie smiled. Thats lovely.
But were moving to his city. More opportunities.
She remembered her own mothers words.
Go, love. Visit often. Paul seems decent.
At the wedding, Matthew was therestill in touch with their youngest, though the eldest wouldnt forgive him. Passing him and Paul, Valerie overheard:
Take it from me, ladstick with one family. However rough it gets, ride it out.
She almost laughed. *So hes tasted regret too.*
Now retired, she sees him sometimes around town. What once was tragedy is now just a shrug, sometimes even a smile.
But that song? *Well meet again*
It still brings tears. Though now, perhaps, theyre just nostalgia.
