ALIVE- Arthur Shelby

New Beginnings OO3

Penelope's eyes fluttered open, the remnants of a restless night still weighing heavily on her. The soft knock on her door penetrated her weary senses, jolting her awake. Exhaustion clung to her like a suffocating fog, making every movement feel like a laborious task. As she stood up, her muscles protested, reminding her of the tension and strain from the night before. Her gaze darted around the room, searching for her dressing gown and shoes. She found them draped over a chair, abandoned in her haste to sleep after Tommy Shelby's unexpected visit.

The knocking persisted, growing slightly more urgent. She reached for her dressing gown and slipped it over her shoulders. With tired steps, she made her way to the door and pulled it open. On the other side stood her neighbor, Marie, her face etched with concern and suspicion. Marie was a well-meaning woman, but her constant nosiness often grated on Penelope's nerves.

"Penelope, dear, I heard some noise last night. Is everything alright?" Marie's tone was laced with insinuation, and her eyes flickered toward the disheveled state of Penelope's living room. Penelope forced a weary smile, trying to maintain her composure despite the annoyance creeping up inside her. "Oh, Marie, it was just a friend visiting. Nothing to worry about." Her words came out weaker than she intended, betraying her weariness.

Marie's eyes narrowed, and she lowered her voice, leaning in slightly. "A friend? At this hour? You should be careful, dear. People might talk." The implication stung, and Penelope felt a surge of anger rise within her. Marie's presumptions about her were unfair, but she knew it was pointless to argue with her neighbor. Instead, she chose to deflect the judgment.

"Again. Just a friend, Marie," Penelope replied firmly, trying to keep her voice steady. "And I can take care of myself just fine." Marie seemed unconvinced but relented slightly.

"Well, if you ever need any help or someone to talk to, you know you can always come over. It's not safe to have strange men over at night." As Marie continued to offer her unsolicited advice, the soft patter of little feet caught Penelope's attention. She glanced down to see Marie's toddler standing behind their mother, looking curious and wide-eyed.

Her heart softened as she saw the innocence on his face, and a flicker of understanding crossed her mind. Marie's concern, though misplaced, stemmed from a place of caring for her neighbor. Penelope knew she couldn't blame Marie entirely; the war had affected everyone in different ways, and sometimes people coped by trying to control the lives of others.

"Thank you, Marie," Penelope repeated, this time with a more genuine appreciation for the sentiment behind the woman's words. Marie's eyes softened, seemingly recognizing that Penelope wasn't entirely dismissive of her concern. "You take care now, dear," she said with a touch of motherly warmth. "And if you ever need anything, don't hesitate to ask. I'll go do groceries now."

Penelope managed a small smile, grateful for the offer even if she knew she wouldn't likely take Marie up on it. "I will, thank you." As Marie turned to leave, she fussed over her children, shooing them back inside. But before she closed the door, the toddler managed to slip past her legs.

He looked up at her with big, innocent eyes. "Marie, are you sure you don't need any help with the boys while you run your errands?" Penelope couldn't help but ask. "I don't mind watching them for a little while. It's no trouble at all."

Marie looked torn, appreciating the offer but not wanting to impose on her already burdened neighbor. "Oh, Penelope, that's kind of you, but I really shouldn't."

"It's really no bother," Penelope insisted. "I know how it is. I used to babysit my little sister all the time back when she was their age. I'll make sure they'll be safe. I know my place is a little messy, but they'll be fine, I promise."

The toddler, Charlie, peeked out from behind Marie, almost as if he understood what was being discussed. He gave Penelope a shy smile. "I'll grab the little one then," Marie said, relieved but slightly hesitant. The toddler waddled into Penelope's apartment, and Penelope hurried after him, quickly removing the ashtray, the booze, and the glasses from the table.

Marie lingered by the door for a moment, still uncertain about leaving her boys in Penelope's care. But seeing how she made the immediate effort to clean up, she relented. Marie put the babe on the couch between the pillows as she said her goodbyes to her two kids.

"Thank you, Penelope. I appreciate this," Marie said.
"No problem at all."
"See you in an hour then."

As Marie closed the door behind her, Penelope sat down next to the baby, while Charlie roamed the living room. Watching over these two little ones reminded Penelope of her own sister. It brought back memories of gentler times when life wasn't tainted by loss and heartache. As she looked at Charlie, she couldn't help but notice the resemblance he had to his father, who was one of the soldiers lost in the war. It was a shared burden among the widows, something that connected them in a way only they could. And now, in this quiet moment with Charlie and the baby, she felt a sense of responsibility to protect and cherish the innocence that remained.

She felt strangely at peace at this moment. Her thoughts drifted back to Tommy Shelby's proposition to work at the Garrison. Maybe it wasn't just about earning a living; perhaps it was about finding a new purpose, a sense of belonging. She had been holding back on herself, she had realized that.