Chirp….Chirp
Joan blinked a wake at the familiar chirping coming from her windowsill . A nest was built by a mother bird, luckily for the bird, Joan had no interest in stealing its eggs.
Joan lifted her blanket, and began stretching for a few minutes. It's an old habit, she returned to doing it after two days of working as a trainee nurse. It helped ease the strain left by long shifts.
Hearing the early chatter, and hurried steps, Joan hurried out of her room with her toiletries. Thankfully it's not that crowded yet. It took her nearly half an hour to get ready. Joan took a final look at her face with her small mirror, before heading to breakfast.
As she walked, Joan thought she forgot something, like something is missing. After checking she brought her notebook, a pen and was wearing her watch. Joan threw this thought out of her mind.
Eating her bread ,Joan Listened to Lily and Helen's usual chatter, participating from time to time,as she was never much of a morning talker, as she spread the last bit of bread with jam, Joan noticed Lily halt a little in her speech, when she lifted her eyes,she saw them looking beyond her , Joan who turned around, was surprised to see Jinen approaching their table with another woman who somehow looked elegant even in uniform.
"good morning " Jinen greeted as she sat down with her companion
"Good morning" ,"good morning"
Joan and the girls replied , waiting for Jinen to introduce.
"This is Rose, she works with me in the emergency department, " Jinen introduced almost naturally, after briefly mentioning her before.
"Ross. These are my friends, Lily , Helen, and Joan"
"Hello Rose ,nice to meet " lily greeted enthusiastically, as always. Then the others followed.
"Glad to know you too" Rose replied, although not offensive, it was a flat smile.
Joan noticed from her micro expressions , that she is not someone who enjoys smiling or simply not used to it.
After chatting for a few minutes, although Rose appeared to be somehow stiff, easier to talk to than they had expected. Finishing their breakfast peacefully, they parted ways to their different floors.
"Good morning, Miss Ryan. How are you doing today?" Joan asked as she assisted with changing the dressing.
"Much better, I still feel some pain as I move, but it is manageable " Ryan replied, somehow relieved by Joan's touch.
"Thank god, make sure to change the dressing every two days, and come back for a check up if you feel your injuries getting worse " Joan instructed, pausing as she finished,she asked "Is someone picking you up? Or do you want me to ask for a carriage for you?
Joan asked this question as she and other nurses already know she doesn't seem to have much of a family, as no one has visited her even after a week of her injury.
"No, thank you. My sister is coming to pick me up today, she lives in another city with her husband right now, which is why she couldn't visit me" Ryan replied, with a happy smile , no one has seen it throughout her stay in the hospital.
"Very well, I wish you a happy reunion and a quick recovery" Joan said warmly, then continued to move on to other patients.
Originally Joan shouldn't have helped with changing the dressing after less than a month of starting as a trainee. A coincidence happened when the ward had grown short-handed a few days earlier, Joan convinced Edith to let her help as it was not her first time changing the dressing. After a thought, seeing she was a quick learner, and the procedure itself was fairly simple ,Edith agreed.
Cleaning, changing dressing, doing rounds with the doctor, taking notes, and assisting with the basics constantly, it was lunch time. Today was Edith's turn to stay for lunch, until the rest of the staff finishes first, which means unfortunately, she has to stay. She is not sad about the late lunch, she was more disappointed about missing the usual lunch gossip.She really wants to know about Jinen and Rose.
"Nurse Joan, I would like a cup of water" Miss Ruth asked Joan who was scrolling through her notes.
"Of course…please drink slowly, so you don't choke " Joan handed her a cup of warm water.
Joan doesn't know if it's expected or not, as after suffering a stroke, and waking two days later , she felt Miss Ruth clearly leaning more on her. Even when Edith took care of, she seemed restless. Joan herself felt a difference around patients she took care of these days. She simply could not explain it yet.
"Joan here " Helen raised her hand, waving to Joan .
"So,only you are here ?" Joan asked after not seeing Lily or Jinen .
"Lily just finished her lunch before she was called, I saw her at the door,and Jinen didn't come yet," Helen answered between bites.
"Oh ,you are here" Jinen was delighted to find them at the far corner.
"Hey, is it her?" Joan and the girls heard a hushed conversation on the table next to them. They didn't pay attention at first until the conversation got too loud to ignore.
"Who are they talking about?" Helen asked.
"They are talking about her," Jinen pointed briefly with her eyes,at another nurse who just sat not too far away.
"I think her name is Matilda, do you remember the nurse we talked about the other day? The rumours involving Doctor William? That's her" Jinen replied indifferently, focusing on swallowing her food. Appearing quite hungry.
Joan turned, and glanced at the girl, gentle, almost innocent appearance, lively eyes, but strangely firm. Joan didn't comment and went back to her lunch as she didn't see it was her place to pry into a stranger's private affairs.
Do you think Joan will get involved?share your thoughts in the comments.