‘But she could hang on all night,’ the sister pointed out.

‘Then I’ll stay all night if need be,’ Holly answered and when the sister moved back onto the ward she was smiling. If only all her nurses were as loving and caring as Nurse Farthing her job would be so much easier.

As the light faded from the day, Holly had to blink to stay awake while poor Mrs Green slept on. At one point the night sister, who had just come on duty, brought her a sandwich and a cup of tea. Holly was concerned that Ivy would worry where she was but she was still determined to stay and was just yawning when the curtain twitched aside and Dr Parkin appeared again.

He looked surprised to see her. ‘Surely you should have gone home hours ago?’

She grinned. ‘Yes, I should but I don’t like to leave her. She hasn’t let go of my hand once. And I could say the same for you!’

He again took the old lady’s pulse and listened to her heart before frowning and saying sadly, ‘I don’t think it will be long now. Her heart rate is very erratic.’

At that very moment the old lady’s eyes blinked open and her grip on Holly’s hand tightened.

‘Dotty, is that you? Are you still here,’ she wheezed.

‘Yes, I’m here,’ Holly said, leaning over her to stroke her brow tenderly.

‘An’ is yer dad still not home from work?’ Before Holly could answer the old woman stared towards the end of the bed and suddenly a beautiful smile lit her face. ‘Ah, there you are, Bertie,’ she croaked, holding her hand out towards some unseen person. ‘I knew you’d come eventually. That’s it, luv, hold me hand now nice an’ tight, eh?’

And then with a contented sigh she became still, looking so peaceful that it brought tears to Holly’s eyes.

Dr Parkin leaned over her and took her pulse again before saying sadly, ‘She’s gone, I’m afraid.’

Holly nodded as she closed the woman’s eyes and gently kissed her brow before drawing the sheet up over her face. ‘Sleep tight, Mrs Green,’ she whispered as a tear slid down her face.

‘Come on, I reckon we both need a good strong cup of sweet tea,’ Dr Parkin said softly, deeply touched by what he had just seen. Holly really was a special girl. ‘I’ll get the night nurse to come and lay her out.’

Holly wearily followed him to the canteen. She should really be getting home but she was too tired to argue.

Minutes later she was sipping at a steaming cup of tea as the young doctor sat opposite her.

‘You were wonderful with that old lady,’ he said approvingly.

Holly shrugged. ‘No more than she deserved,’ she answered quietly. ‘No one deserves to die all alone.’

‘Even so, most nurses would have been off like a shot when their shift was over.’

‘Well, I’m not most nurses,’ Holly told him with a little smile.