The Pain of Silence

Jane, a district nurse, felt mentally drained. She was aware that she was on trial and her senior colleague gave no indication as to whether or not she had made the grade. There was only one more patient to visit. The address sounded delightful, perhaps this was a lucky omen? How wrong that assumption proved to be. Jane was introduced to her patient Esther Taylor and was met with instant animosity. Mrs Taylor made no attempt to conceal her displeasure. Henry Taylor, her husband, had a similar attitude. It appeared they didn't even like each other. Months went by and the resentment was still palpable with each visit. It puzzled Jane and became a heavy weight upon her shoulders. Why couldn't she get through to this patient? As the years went by Jane gradually became more like a daughter than a nurse. She was renamed Sunshine. However, Esther and Henry continued to bicker and keep their cards close to their chests. Time passed. The Taylors died. After Jane had cleared their home she left with a grubby plastic bag which, unknown to her, contained unimaginable secrets and revelations which Esther and Henry had kept from the world and each other.