She shook her head, her grey eyes shining with tears as she headed for the door without another word, closing it shut firmly behind her.
He watched her go, his voice catching in his throat and he whimpered, turning his face into the crook of his arms.
Francis stood up eventually, clearing his throat weakly as he put on a straight face, exiting the infirmary. His gait was still uneven.
As he entered the main lobby, he would see Poppy sitting at table, looking up at Dylan with a confused expression. As he watched the two of them talk, he would see Poppy‘s face change from confused to shocked to desolate.
Poppy stood up abruptly, her fingertips brushing the tabletop. Francis would recognize the rise and fall of her shoulders and it would be easy for him to see that she was trying to stay calm.
Poppy turned to leave and her eyes fell on him for a moment. She shuddered before leaving the room, the door swinging shut behind her.
Her trembling hands were pressed to her eyelids as if trying to dissipate the words that she knew she had heard. “Let me get this straight,” she said, her voice terrible and quiet. “After you...” She paused, struggling over the right words. “...left me to go back and help, you kissed her? You two kissed?” Her voice cracked on the final word and she dropped her hands, folding her arms with her eyes still tightly shut as if she were preparing for execution.
He shook his head, his voice desperate to get her to believe him. "No! I would never do that to you. She kissed me when I didn't expect it, and I stopped it right away," he tried to explain. "Please believe me. I don't want this to happen again. I don't.. I can't lose you again."
She bit her lip, her shoulders shaking. “Why did you go, then? Why were you so desperate to leave if you don’t love her?” Her voice was plaintive and she looked up at him, her eyes wary.
He looked hurt, and shuddered slightly. "Are you serious, Poppy? I went back to help, which I failed at because Penelope didn't make it.." He shook his head, pinching the bridge of the nose. "I don't love her. I mean, were supposed to get married soon. I wouldn't want anything else!"
She held herself, watching him carefully, her eyes wide. “You’re sure? Please don’t lie to me. Just tell me.”
