Arriving in the West End, we lingered for a while in Leicester Square, taking in the atmosphere of the Christmas crowds as they made their way to the various theatres, operas, and music halls that populated the area. My own eyes kept been drawn towards the park and the statue of Shakespeare, as though I expected to see Poppy standing there, waiting for me, smiling, telling me to hurry up, perhaps a dead soldier in her arms. But she wasn't there, of course. She was gone and my heart still ached at the thought of it.
We stood before the Empire Theatre gazing at the posters on display. A production of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol was attracting much attention, and crowds thronged around us. A small Christmas tree stood by the side of the steps that led into the theatre, and at its twin
