Title: Sally Harper
Fandom: Call The Midwife
Rating: PG
Length: 532 words
Summary: Sally Harper is featured in series 3 of Call the Midwife, when she's 30.  This story imagines her in the current series (10).
Warning for character death.

"I'm sorry, Mrs Harper, but there’s nothing more we can do,” Dr Turner said.  “We’ve made Sally as comfortable as possible, but it’s only a matter of time now.”

“Thank you, doctor.  We were warned when she was little it was likely she wouldn’t live as long as others.  And although I probably shouldn’t say it, in some ways it’s better this way.  There’s always been the thought at the back of my mind of who would take care of her when we were gone.”

“I quite understand.  She would have continued to be looked after.”

“I know, but I’m not sure how she’d have coped.  We’ve always been here for her.  And who else would tell her she was loved?  May I sit with her?”

“Of course, you can.  You can stay with her as long as you like.”

“Thank you.  I don’t want her to feel frightened and on her own.”

Dr Turner smiled and Mrs Harper went into the room where Sally was lying in a neat white bed.

“I said I’d be back, didn’t I?” she said.

“Yes, mum, you did,” Sally replied.  Mrs Harper took her hand.  “Am I dying?”

Mrs Harper took a deep breath.  “Yes, love, the doctor said you are.”

“Will it hurt?”

“No, the doctor’s given you something to take the pain away, and, if necessary, he’ll come back and give you some more.”

“And I’ll go to Heaven?”

Try as she might, Mrs Harper couldn’t stop a few tears from falling.  “Yes, you’ll go to Heaven.”

“And I’ll see Jacob again?”

“You’ll see Jacob.”  Sally’s boyfriend had died the previous winter.  They hadn’t met again since Jacob had been sent to another home in Scotland, but she had continued to mention him on occasions, and when the Harpers learnt Jacob had died, after some discussion they had decided to tell Sally.  She had accepted the news quietly and Mrs Harper had thought Sally had forgotten him.

“And my baby?”

“Oh!”

“My baby’ll be a cherub, with little wings, like in the Christmas book we read.”

Sally’s baby had been born early and stillborn.  She had never spoken about the child, and after the birth Sally had been happy to return to her parent’s home and then return to her residential home.  The memory of that time caused Mrs Harper to shed more tears, reminding her of what might have been had her daughter not been born with Down’s Syndrome. 

Nevertheless, she controlled her voice and said, “Your baby will be there too.”

Shortly after that Sally fell asleep.  Mrs Harper continued to hold her hand.  A while later a nurse came in and, noting Sally’s ragged breathing, hurried out again.  It wasn’t long before Dr Turner returned with Sally’s father.

“You can take her other hand, if you like,” Dr Turner said to Mr Harper.

The Harpers sat either side of the bed, each holding one of Sally’s hands. 

Another few minutes and Dr Turner said, “It’s over.  We’ll leave you in peace together.”

Mrs Harper turned to look at her husband but couldn’t see him for her tears.  However, she knew he too was crying at the loss of their child.