"Like so many girls, Jenny Wren could sing. But a broken heart, took her song away" ~Jenny Wren - Paul McCartney

Dearest Charli,

Its been months, but I'll continue writing until I hear otherwise from you.

I haven't been writing as much, the band has been so busy this summer! We're starting a residency in Hamburg next month, can ya' believe it?

I hope all is well where you are, I miss you every day and think about you every night.

I hope most of all, you're safe.

All my loving,

JPM

-----

Minnesota, July 1960

Charli sat in a clean, white waiting room with her mother reading over a women's' magazine and scoffing at the articles.

"Really, Charlotte," Mrs. McLeod said picking a bit of lint off Charli's jacket "It's the middle of July, why don't you take this jacket off? You have such pretty shoulders and you must be hot"

"You and Da' make me feel bad about my body, and now you're telling me I have 'pretty shoulders'? No thanks...I'm keeping it on" Charli said not even looking up from the magazine.

"I'm sure there's nothing wrong with your shoulder," Mrs. McLeod said changing subjects "Just a bit of adjustment from your accident, I'll let the doctor know you've been fine otherwise"

"Actually mum, I'd like to go by myself," Charli said coldly. She had been thinking about this since the appointment was made, she didn't want any questions from her mother over the scars she'd accumulated on her arm.

"Oh dearie, I think I should go with you...never know what you might forget to tell the doctor," Mrs. McLeod said in a thinly veiled panic.

"Don't worry," Charli said looking at her mother "I'll tell him I fell down the stairs"

Mrs. McLeod's face went bright red as another patient nervously glanced back at her magazine.

"Charlotte? Charlotte McLeod" a young nurse called as she entered the waiting room. Charli stood and followed the nurse into a patient room as Molly McLeod nervously waited outside.

**

"Charlotte," a middle-aged man addressed her after the nurse had finished her general questions and left. He had light blonde hair and blue eyes and a sunny disposition.

"I'm Doctor Swenson," he continued as he looked over her chart "Now, it says here you've been feeling some sharp pains in your shoulder and weakness"

"Its why I only got a B in gym class," Charli shrugged. Dr. Swenson picked up on her accent.

"You're from Liverpool, aren't you?" He asked. Charli perked up instantly.

"Yeah, how'd ya' know?" Charli asked curiously.

"I have a cousin who used to live in Liverpool, he's in London now" Dr. Swenson smiled.

"Yeah, everyone leaves for London eventually" Charli laughed slightly.

"Right, this shoulder...has there been any previous trauma or injury?" Dr. Swenson asked.

"Well...I dislocated it at Christmas time, hasn't seemed quite right since...I was in a sling for weeks" she explained.

"And how did you dislocate it?" Dr. Swenson asked peering over his clipboard.

"....I fell down the stairs..." Charli lied. Dr. Swenson made a face and wrote something down. He then sat in a chair across from her.

"Now Charlotte," he began "It's just me and you here...is there a reason you didn't want your mother in this appointment"

Charli nodded. She removed her jacket, revealing dozens of small white scars and a few recently scabbed scars as well.

"I see," he said examining the scars.

"I...did it..." Charli admitted sadly. "It makes me feel...something"

Dr. Swenson thought a moment.

"Charlotte, your mother really should-" he began.

"NO!" She said anxiously "They can't know....they just can't"

"Is there any reason your parents shouldn't know you're this unhappy?" He asked.

"They just can't....they'll be really fucked off," Charli said. She realised she'd said too much "Just forget it"

"Hey," he said soothingly "If it's really that big of a deal, I can keep quiet. In fact, as a doctor I have to...but I do need to note it in your file."

Charli nodded.

"Now, let's have a look at this shoulder," he said.

**

Dr. Swenson brought Charli's mum into the room after allowing Charli to cover her scars.

"Well, Mrs. McLeod," he began "You have a very mature daughter. She was smart in describing the pain she's experiencing, I'm only sorry to hear her accident happened around Christmas!"

Mrs. McLeod laughed nervously "Oh, thank you, Doctor. I told her she was worrying for no reason, that her shoulder's just adjusting"

"Hold on, I'm not quite finished," he said. "Unfortunately, it hasn't set properly. There is a tear in the labrum ligament. Unless this is fixed she's at risk of dislocating it again. Which, from what she tells me...she had a hard time doing many of the required tasks in her gym class because of weakness, pain and feeling the shoulder pop I'm only glad she DID hold back or it would be worse. She won't have full strength unless we intervene. "

"What do you mean?" Mrs. McLeod asked.

"Charlotte needs surgery," Dr. Swenson said plainly. "Its been scheduled 2 weeks from today"

Liverpool, July 1960

Jenny sat by the pier smoking a ciggie. It was a warm summer day, she'd just left a local fete early. Much as she'd had fun with Claudia and the rest of the teddies, she was struck by memories from the fete a year before, when The Quarrymen played and when she John and George distracted Sally so Paul and Charli could have their alone time. The fete this year, had been alright, just not the same and it made matters worse seeing Paul and Dot flirting, he'd barely noticed her there and they'd been friends for too long and she'd felt he'd forgotten all about Charli while she still worried daily for her best friend.

As she was lost in her thoughts and cigarette smoke she heard two voices laughing as they walked nearby.

"Hey Jenny Wren," Paul said. He had an arm around Dot who was giggling at something he'd said.

Jenny scoffed. "Don't call me that, McCartney"

Paul cocked his head and Dot stopped laughing.

"What's goin' on with ya' Jen?" he asked.

"Surprised ya' care" Jenny shrugged.

"Mind givin' us a mo' luv?" Paul said to Dot "I'll catch up with ya' later"

"Alright, Paulie" She smiled before kissing him. Once Dot was further away, Paul turned to Jen.

"What was that all about?" he asked annoyed.

"The fuck do ya' think?" Jenny asked finally looking at him. Paul sat next to her cautiously.

"C'mon Jen, ya' can tell me," he said

"Really?" Jenny said angrily "Because I haven't seen ya' more than a couple times in the last few weeks. Fuck, we used to be best mates, now ya' got some bird who isn't me other bezzie and I'm nothin'!"

"Aw, I'm sorry Jen," he said putting an arm around her "I'll try to spend more time with ya's..."

"It's not just that!" Jenny interrupted with tears in her eyes "You don't even care anymore"

"What do ya' mean, I don't care?" Paul asked indignantly.

"Ya' got some new bird," Jenny said "Not only have ya' forgotten me, you've forgotten Charli"

"Ya' mean forgotten having to use you as a cover? Forgotten sneaking around so her parents wouldn't piss themselves? Forgotten me mates telling me it wasn't worth it?" Paul said angrily.

"Oh fuck off!" Jenny yelled, "Is that what you tell yourself to feel better?"

"Honestly," Paul said sitting back down "Yes..."

"I haven't forgotten the nights with Charli, the weird little quirks, the way she saw the world,  I haven't forgotten staying up late worrying if she was safe in that house..." he continued "I haven't forgotten Jen...I still write her regularly.."

Jenny was silent.

"Really?" she said after a long while. Paul nodded.

"At least once a week," he said before standing up. "C'mon, let's go for a walk"

Paul and Jenny walked a long while through Liverpool. Jenny felt like things were a bit more normal.

"So do you love her?" Jenny asked as she lit a cigarette.

"Charli?" Paul asked as they had just been speaking about her "Of course I do!"

"No, I know that...I mean this new girl" Jenny said.

"Dot?" Paul asked. "It's different...I mean, I like her...I have fun with her..."

"But..." Jenny added sensing Paul's uneasiness.

"But...I sort of feel like I'm just filling time" Paul sighed "I'm not over what happened to Charli...I don't know if I will be, but I have to carry on...or try to..."

Jenny scoffed.

"She is really nice Jen," Paul added. "You might like her"

"Nah, she's in a different group than me....you should know that Paulie," Jenny said with a smirk. "You know your kitten will be back someday...and she's got claws"

Paul laughed slightly.

"I really should be makin' more time for ya's Jenny Wren," he said putting an arm around her shoulder "I miss this"

"Me too," Jenny said. "But, you'll be off to Hamburg soon....don't expect me to babysit yer new bird while yer gone"

"I would never ask ya' that" Paul laughed "Hey, Hamburg is goin' ta' fly by. Honestly, Jen...this is all happening so fast, I hope it lasts!"

"'Course it will!" Jenny said happily "You lads are amazing!"

Paul grinned.

"Maybe someday, we'll make it to America," he said daydreaming "And I'll bring yer bezzie back for ya's"

They both laughed.

"Sure," Jenny said sarcastically "I'll kiss you if that happens! And not some granny kiss either"

"I'll hold you to that!" Paul laughed.

They walked on longer, neither caring that the sun was no longer up and enjoying the summer night.

Minnesota, July 1960 (2 weeks later)

Charli's head felt fuzzy like she was just waking up. She had been having the most amazing time on the pier with Paul and Jenny.

"Good morning sleepy head!" a female's voice said.

"Jenny?" Charli said confused.

"Jenny?" the voice said "No..I'm nurse Jill. Just came in to check on you"

Charli closed her eyes, trying to clear the sleep from them.

"Ah, Miss McLeod," Dr. Swenson said as he entered the hospital room. "Good to see you're awake."

"Thanks, Doctor," she said tiredly as everything came into focus. She suddenly felt a sharp pain in her shoulder and winced slightly.

"Ah, yes...you're due another dose of morphine soon," Dr. Swenson said noticing the look of pain on Charli's face "First, we should get some food in you. The surgery was a success, however, you will need to remain in a sling for the next 6 weeks"

"...but that's my birthday..." Charli said absentmindedly.

"I'm afraid so," Dr. Swenson said. "But you only need one hand to eat cake."

"Breakfast dear," Nurse Jill said setting a tray in front of Charli.

Soon, Charli had eaten. She waited for the morphine to take away the pain, before she knew it she was in Liverpool, at The Casbah with her friends as The Quarrymen sang.

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A/N: The next few chapters may be a little short (depends once I get writing ;) ) as I'm keen to have some happier times for these two!  The next couple chapters aren't quite as heavy as the last...that was hard to write.  Anyway, thank you for reading, commenting and voting.  it's appreciated ;)

https://youtu.be/U9GvXFphCFc