Not one call. Not a call, not a letter, not even an inkling of contact. For two days, Molly was completely radio silent. I tried to call the hospital but the line was busy every time. I even tried to call The Mackenzie household, but nobody was home. It was completely silent.

After our show in London, we were completely free. John, Ringo, and George all went home to their families. They had girls, and two had children, waiting for them. Even Linda had gone off on her own, her father and brother flew in for a visit. Everybody was completely relaxed.

I was a bundle of nerves. The Mackenzie Family Curse was still just as dangerous as it was when Mr. and Mrs. Mackenzie were alive. With Molly not answering, I was left to assume the worst. Anything could have happened; to her, to the twins, or even to the baby. They all had tainted blood from a curse laid centuries ago.

"Lia, will you please stop pacing?" Paul asked.

I paused at the door and glanced at him. He twiddled his thumbs together, leaning on the edge of his seat and watching me anxiously. My nerves were rubbing off on him making whatever he felt ten times worse.

"I can't!" I exclaimed, "Why isn't she answering?"

I fell into the seat next to him and buried my face in my hands. Paul gently rubbed my back, doing his best to comfort me even though he was just as anxious. Both of us were absolutely terrified of what would happen.

"I don't know, but we're about to find out," Paul muttered.

Some people say that no news is good news. Most of the time, this is true, but not when it came to Molly. Molly was the sort of girl who can't resist shouting good news the second she hears it. She wants the entire world to know why she is so happy, but she never wants anyone to know why she's sad. For her to go completely cold turkey, something had to be wrong.

My gut was twisting. Something deep inside, buried beneath my soul, was warning me. The last time I had felt like this, Dad told us Mum had died. It made my blood run cold as I hurried to Molly.

"It's going to be alright," Paul told me, "Whatever happens, Lia, it's going to be alright."

I rubbed my hands together and nodded, "I know, but- I don't know, something's wrong."

"Whatever it is, we'll deal with it together."

"Thanks, Paulie."

He pulled me into a side hug just as the train pulled into the station. To both of our surprise, there was almost nobody on the platform. The entire station seemed abandoned. For the first time in what seemed like forever, we were able to walk through the Liverpool train station uninterrupted.

"S'pose they didn't get the word," Paul stated.

I shrugged, "Whatever the reason, I'm glad. It's kinda nice."

"Feels a bit weird."

We had gotten so used to having to run from fans every five seconds, it seemed unnatural, almost empty without it. Something was missing, we could both feel it even though we were beyond grateful. As much as I hated being screamed and clawed at, I hated feeling empty even more.

I was on autopilot. My feet knew their way to the hospital without me even having to think it through. After years of going back and forth and watching Mum ride her bike down the streets, I knew the way. I may have known the path to the hospital better than I knew the path to my own home.

"Thanks for coming with me, Paulie," I smiled at my older brother.

He clapped my shoulder, "Course. Can't let my baby sister deal with this alone."

"You're too kind."

There was a lot of places I spent my time in. My favorites were my own home and the homes of my friends. From studios to theaters and even stadiums, there's not a building on Earth I haven't been in. A lot of my time, more time than I would have cared, was spent in hospitals and graveyards. I knew the smell of cleaning supplies better than I knew the candles lit in my house. I navigated newly dug graves better than my brother's house.

I didn't hate them. With as much pain as I felt every time I stepped into a graveyard, I still went. Despite growing to fear the blank walls of hospitals, I walked through them. Those two places have caused me more pain than anywhere else, and yet, I didn't hate them. I still walked through them with my chin held high; higher even than my pain.

"It's been awhile since we've been here," Paul commented whenever the hospital came into view.

I grinned, "Brings back memories, yeah?"

"I'd rather forget," Paul wrinkled his nose, "Was so boring then."

"It's boring now."

"Can't say I disagree."

The hospital itself was nothing spectacular. It was the generic brown brick building with curtained windows and neatly trimmed bushes. The doors were crystal clean glass and the walls were so white, they almost faded from existence. Each tile was like a mirror and the entire building reeked of cleaning supplies. This hospital didn't try to cover the bleach with lemon spray.

"Can I help you?" the nurse behind the desk asked.

Everything about him was fake. From his shiny hair to his slightly too big smile. Even his scrubs seemed fake. His eyes shone like glass eyes, and his hands moved in a robotic manner. He had no facial features other than his eyes, nose, mouth, and eyebrows. Otherwise, he was nothing more than a glass doll.

"I'm here to visit my friend," I said, "Molly Mackenzie, she's here with her sister."

The man shuffled through a few papers before clicking his tongue, "Ah, the Mackenzie's. Quite a pity, isn't it?"

He said it so casually, and yet, my blood ran cold. For a moment, I simply stared at him. I lost all means at communication as my mind ran away with me. All I could think was that something happened to Molly.

"Can you tell us where they are?" Paul asked, grabbing a hold of my elbow.

The man nodded, "Just down that hall to your left. Take the first right and you'll find them."

I was gone before Paul even registered me moving. He hurried to catch up with me as I pushed through the double doors. If something was wrong with Molly, nothing was going to keep me away from her. I had to know she was alright.

"Lia, breath," Paul said, "It won't do Molly any good if you fall over too."

"That's why you're here," I replied.

Paul frowned, "I can't hold you up if you're unconscious."

"I won't be."

He didn't seem convinced, but he didn't press any further. We turned the first right and came face to face with a dark hall. Only one door had light shining from it. It was wide open, being propped against the wall with a cleaning cart. Inside, a few chairs were dotting the room with a hospital bed in the middle. The room was empty except for the blonde woman sitting on the bed cradling a pink pillow.

"Molly!" I exclaimed.

She glanced up at me. As soon as our eyes connected, I knew something was wrong. She was broken, even more so than the day her Mum died. Everything about her was lost. It was as if her soul was damned to wander through an endless void for all eternity. No map could help her find her way.

"Molly?" I asked, "Molly, what's wrong?"

Paul and I moved to stand on either side of the bed. I didn't hesitate in gripping her hand. She squeezed back, her eyes glassy as they stared into mine. For a moment, she was completely silent. Even the bundle in her arms remained as still as a statue. She was turned off. Every feature had fallen while her mind was completely blank. As she stared at me, she looked asleep even though her eyes were wide open and blinking.

"Did I do something wrong?" she asked.

Paul glanced up at me with confusion. I gripped Molly's hand and shook my head, "Molly, no, of course you didn't."

"Am I being punished?" she continued, "It's my fault, I know it is."

"Molly, no, listen to me, what happened is not your fault. You're not being punished because you did nothing wrong," I gently cupped her cheek.

Tears began to form in her eyes, "Then, why do I lose everyone I love?"

Slowly, Paul began to realize what had happened. I knew from the moment we walked into the room. The way Molly moved, and the way she looked so alone despite the person who loved her most sitting across from her told me. Just by looking in her eyes, I knew, another tragedy had occurred in a long string of many. Paul gently laid a hand on Molly's shoulder in an effort to comfort her.

"Molly-" I began, but she interrupted.

"First, Papa dies," she muttered, "Then, I lost Mum. Now I lost Regina, and even Reggie's gone. If this isn't punishment, then I don't know what is."

Tears began to pour down her cheeks. She shook slightly, almost as if she were cold. I sat next to her and wrapped my arms around her, "Not everyone. You still have me."

"And me," Paul said.

"Exactly," I replied, "You've got the lads, you've got Linda, Janice, Ellen. We're not going anywhere, Mols."

Molly blinked, "You can't promise that."

"But I can."

She glanced at me and began to sob. I pulled her to my chest, hugging her tightly and doing my best to avoid the bundle in her arms. Only Paul noticed when the blanket fell away to reveal a tiny nose and two puffy cheeks.

Molly calmed down just a few minutes later. She sniffled, pulling away but never losing contact. My arm was still around her shoulders as she pressed into my side. She wiped her eyes and said, "Gina- she wasn't ready. She was too young, too young to have a baby. That's what they tell me, at least. They say she fought as long as she could."

"Of course she did, she's Regina," I replied, "That girl wouldn't know what to do if she wasn't fighting something."

Molly laughed slightly, "She gave the end a run for it's money, but, even she couldn't win. She- Christ, she was only nineteen!"

She shook her head rapidly. I tightened my grip on her shoulders. Paul watched us with an expression that mirrored how I felt inside; completely gutted.

"Regina is dead," Molly muttered, "She died before the baby was even born."

I've experienced death more than the average person. It seems as if everyone I love dies, save for the very few. To anyone who asks, I tell them I consider death an old friend of mine. Every so often, he stops for tea and leaves with a full belly and another soul in his bag. As often as he comes to visit, he has yet to take me with him.

Death has taken many people from me, but never someone so young. Regina was nineteen. She was supposed to be going to university and having fun with all of her friends, not dying. She had an entire life laid out in front of her all taken in the blink of an eye. Never would Regina be able to experience the burn of her first drink, or the thrill of her first drive. She would never walk down the aisle or see her child grow up. Regina had the whole world at her feet, and now, she was underneath it all.

"Molly, I'm so sorry," Paul rubbed her shoulder.

Molly wiped her eyes, "Sorry won't bring her back, but, it sounds nice. Thank you."

He smiled at her. The bundle in her arms wiggled, drawing my attention. I watched as baby blue irises saw the world for the first time. The second I looked into those eyes, I knew I had just met the second love of my life. It felt like looking into the pearly gates of Heaven and knowing, one day, I was going to find my way there. Looking at that baby was liking looking at hope for a new future and a new life. 

"Regina died creating a life," Molly muttered, "This is Vera."

The baby yawned, her mouth stretching almost to the back of her head. Tiny blonde hairs poked from her otherwise bald scalp and her tiny hands tugged at the edge of the blanket. She gazed up at Molly, Paul, and me with eyes that couldn't quite see us yet.

That day, the world had lost a beautiful soul but gained an extraordinary girl. Vera Mackenzie was born on September 12, 1965. She came into this world as her mother left it, but she was never alone.

I was never one for babies. While I adored my friends' children and I loved babysitting them, I never wanted one for my own. I still considered myself a child, I couldn't imagine raising one. Until I met Vera. When I first saw her, she was so small, so vulnerable, I knew someone had to protect her. She looked up at me with eyes filled with love even when she didn't know what love was just yet. I fell in love the first time she reached out towards me, wiggling her fingers for some sort of touch. In that moment, I vowed, Vera wouldn't follow in the footsteps of her mother and her grandparents. She would be the happiest, healthiest, and safest Mackenzie yet. I would make sure of it. 

"She's beautiful," I whispered.

Molly smiled, "She looks just like Mum."

"She looks just like you," Paul replied, "Right down to the hairs on her head."

That day, I swore, no harm would ever come to Vera. So long as I was living and breathing, nothing would ever hurt her. I would do everything in my power to make sure she was safe and happy.

"She's got no one else," Molly said, "I'm all she has left."

I rubbed Vera's head and smiled, "Ah, but there's where you're wrong."

"What-?" she began.

"I'm not going anywhere," I answered, "You and I- we'll make bloody good Aunts."

Molly's smile widened. I returned the gesture. Our small family was far from traditional. With a baby born to a dead mother and two girls whose love affair had to be kept hidden from the world, our family was as far from traditional as one could possibly get, but that's what made it work. We stayed together not out of responsibility or social pride, but because of love. The love we had for each other was enough to power through anything that got in our way.

"And she'll have four brilliant Uncles, you know," Paul winked.

I giggled, "She's got the whole package."

"She does, doesn't she?" Molly asked, "Little Vera, you'll be the happiest girl in the world."

I squeezed Molly's shoulders, "By golly, Miss Molly, just you wait."

(Photo- Paul taking a photo of Amelia, 1965. Taken by Amelia McCartney.)