Inside the nurses' dormitory bathroom, warm water splashed on Joan's face and hands, early in the morning.
Joan was the only person currently up, as she woke up more than half an hour earlier today. Witnessing the state of medical care in this era weighed heavily on her mind. She already knew the general medical progress, but knowing and seeing with her own eyes, is two different things.
Knowing she couldn't afford to get even a cold, as it could be endangering, she decided to do her best to maintain her health. The idea had lingered in the back of her mind for weeks, but exhaustion had always given her an excuse to postpone it.
So, today is Joan's first day running around the nurses dormitory. She was wearing warm pajamas and boots, with a scarf enveloping half her face and neck. After a brief warm-up, Joan started jogging around the residence grounds.
After washing her sweat in the bathroom, and just as the rest began waking up and heading to wash. Joan met with Lily and Helen half way back to her room.
"Good morning "
"Good morning "
As always, not having enough desire to talk early in the morning, they kept it at simple greetings.
The nurses' morning shift began, like usual, from assisting with simple cleaning and sterilizing the patients utilities to helping with distributing breakfast, assisting those unable to eat on their own. Joan continued her usual routine of attending to different patients with Edith, while paying close attention to Miss Laura's condition. Though, it appears that Joan's help is deemed mostly unnecessary. As Edith was watching Laura like a mother chicken protecting her baby, which was understandable. Every time Joan gets a few free minutes, she will get her notes out of her pocket, writing a few sentences in an orderly manner. As she can't do much else now, with her being mostly useless in this situation. All she could do is bring her water or wipe her body. She really wished her doing this could wipe a little of guilt.
Standing beside the bed, while knowing there was a chance the treatment would hasten the very outcome everyone hoped to prevent, left a bitter taste in Joan's heart.
Afterwards she would still record the pulse, change the linens, and offer comforting words as though nothing was wrong.
Sometimes it felt dangerously close to being an accomplice.
"Edith. Dr. William is calling you for something" Agnes conveyed the message, before returning to her patients, holding a tray with fresh dressing.
"Pay attention to miss Laura in case she wakes, we will start serving lunch as soon as I come back" Edith Said as she walked out of the general ward.
"I know, go ahead," Joan replied briefly, not lifting her head from her notes. It was a rare quiet time before lunch.
"Mmm—Ahm" Miss Laura woke up moaning, with a hoarse, tired voice.
"Joan hurried to her bedside and helped her sit up against the headboard.
"Here, drink slowly" Joan held the cup closer to her lips, and waited patiently.
After a few sips, Laura was laid back, She looked exhausted, pain radiating from her sides to her back. And even her eyes looked somehow blanked. After these few days she went through with torture treatment, it appears to be far what she could handle, and as expected, she began to lose her fighting spirit.
"Please hold on for a little while, we will serve lunch in a bit" Joan said gently while holding her hand and noting her pulse.
"I don't have an appetite" After several days on little more than milk, hardly anyone would have much of an appetite.
"Even so, try a few bites. It's not good to pass on food"
"Hmm" Laura nodded, listless.
Knowing she was not happy, Joan changed the subject. What both of them didn't notice, is Joan unconsciously, still held onto Laura's hand for a few minutes, and within this time, Laura felt her pain and discomfort getting gradually better, which she attributed to the water and maybe the treatment.
Laura's pulse felt steadier than it had a few minutes ago.
Joan frowned slightly.
Perhaps she was imagining it.
As Edith returned unusually late after her visit to Dr.William's office, Joan in turn had her lunch quite late. But we have to say it created a great coincidence. Just as she was half through with her lunch, a beautiful girl with bright blonde hair, sat at the far end of her table, as she was sitting alone, with Lily and the others already back to the shift.
As the blond beauty sat down, she opened a letter. After a few glances, she stopped paying attention and returned to her lunch.
"Enfin une bonne nouvelle."