felt fabric, and then placed it over his sleek hair. “More coverage on that cheek if you will.” He marched by the frosted glass panel door to leave Nell looking at her bruised cheek in the mirror.
Memories Lost
Nell rushed through the doors of the ward, precisely fifteen minutes late. It was noisy and hectic today, with three new wounded soldiers impatiently waiting to be directed to a rare empty bed. As she quickly strode toward the cloakroom, she noticed Jack’s bed was surrounded by three nurses and Dr Stanton. Her eyes grew large and mouth dropped opened in panic. She let out tiny shallow breaths, praying she wouldn’t be seen. Jack was now awake, sitting upright with no bandage over his eyes.
Nell’s view flit in all directions, but kept falling back onto him like the attraction of a magnet. This was bad. This could turn into a calamity at any moment she thought. Unsure on what to do, she spun so he wouldn’t see her, clumsily dropping her handbag on the floor. As she bent down to retrieve it, she came face to face with Sister Mary’s patent black shoes. And so her calamity began.
Slowly, she straightened up and nervously brought her handbag into her belly. Sister Mary’s cross pupils were pinpointed, sharp, and the ray of them made Nell sigh out loud. She knew an altercation with the Sister could draw the attention of Jack. So she swiftly made sure that all Jack could see was her back.
“I’m sorry Sister Mary,” she bit down on her lip.
“Well don’t just stand there gormless,” Sister Mary yapped. “Get a move on… beds one to nine need changing, then you can see to Jack’s eyes.”
Nell began to mumble breathlessly, with a blushing heat rapidly rushing beneath her skin.
“Sister, I was thinking… that maybe ward three would benefit from my assistance today.”
Sister Mary’s already lined forehead, lined even more. “Ward three,” she snarled. “Is fine. This is your post, and you will do well not to slack from it.” Her harsh tone made Nell step back.
“Sorry Sister Mary,” Nell began to shame.
“And when you see to Jack, just be careful what you say to him.”
“Why?”
“He was quite the handful last night, and had to be sedated after waking up screaming,” she explained. “He has regained vision, but he has had a small trauma to the back of his head.” She peered at Jack over Nell’s shoulder. “Can’t remember anything other than a few months ago. The doctor thinks it is more likely stress related,” she hummed. “So no dillydallying Eleanor,” she ordered before her shoes clopped away.
Nell bravely turned to Jack, full of worry. She didn’t want face him after all these years, but she wouldn’t wish such an awful ailment on anyone- let alone Jack.
***
Nell had gone to great efforts to leave Jack for as long as possible. She made all the beds, one to nine, and was now serving the men tea and biscuits. This was her favourite time of the day, normally. She loved to chat to the men, try and lighten the atmosphere as Teresa did her friendly flirting. But now she couldn’t escape him. She had served everyone, and left poor Jack out. She took a deep breath and glanced across to him. His expression was vacant and depressed. She couldn’t put it off any longer, so she poured him a cup, stirred in two sugars (the way she remembered he liked it) and bravely approached his bed.
“Jack,” she said softly, but he didn’t respond. “I’ve made you a cup of tea… you look like you have a sweet tooth, so there’s two heaped spoons in there for you.”
Nell placed the teacup down on the bedside table, noting the redness around his eyes. It was much better than it was, but could still do with a clean. The task she had been putting off all morning.
With a kidney dish full of boiled water, a handful of swabs, and some antiseptic ointment, Nell stood
Memories Lost
Nell rushed through the doors of the ward, precisely fifteen minutes late. It was noisy and hectic today, with three new wounded soldiers impatiently waiting to be directed to a rare empty bed. As she quickly strode toward the cloakroom, she noticed Jack’s bed was surrounded by three nurses and Dr Stanton. Her eyes grew large and mouth dropped opened in panic. She let out tiny shallow breaths, praying she wouldn’t be seen. Jack was now awake, sitting upright with no bandage over his eyes.
Nell’s view flit in all directions, but kept falling back onto him like the attraction of a magnet. This was bad. This could turn into a calamity at any moment she thought. Unsure on what to do, she spun so he wouldn’t see her, clumsily dropping her handbag on the floor. As she bent down to retrieve it, she came face to face with Sister Mary’s patent black shoes. And so her calamity began.
Slowly, she straightened up and nervously brought her handbag into her belly. Sister Mary’s cross pupils were pinpointed, sharp, and the ray of them made Nell sigh out loud. She knew an altercation with the Sister could draw the attention of Jack. So she swiftly made sure that all Jack could see was her back.
“I’m sorry Sister Mary,” she bit down on her lip.
“Well don’t just stand there gormless,” Sister Mary yapped. “Get a move on… beds one to nine need changing, then you can see to Jack’s eyes.”
Nell began to mumble breathlessly, with a blushing heat rapidly rushing beneath her skin.
“Sister, I was thinking… that maybe ward three would benefit from my assistance today.”
Sister Mary’s already lined forehead, lined even more. “Ward three,” she snarled. “Is fine. This is your post, and you will do well not to slack from it.” Her harsh tone made Nell step back.
“Sorry Sister Mary,” Nell began to shame.
“And when you see to Jack, just be careful what you say to him.”
“Why?”
“He was quite the handful last night, and had to be sedated after waking up screaming,” she explained. “He has regained vision, but he has had a small trauma to the back of his head.” She peered at Jack over Nell’s shoulder. “Can’t remember anything other than a few months ago. The doctor thinks it is more likely stress related,” she hummed. “So no dillydallying Eleanor,” she ordered before her shoes clopped away.
Nell bravely turned to Jack, full of worry. She didn’t want face him after all these years, but she wouldn’t wish such an awful ailment on anyone- let alone Jack.
***
Nell had gone to great efforts to leave Jack for as long as possible. She made all the beds, one to nine, and was now serving the men tea and biscuits. This was her favourite time of the day, normally. She loved to chat to the men, try and lighten the atmosphere as Teresa did her friendly flirting. But now she couldn’t escape him. She had served everyone, and left poor Jack out. She took a deep breath and glanced across to him. His expression was vacant and depressed. She couldn’t put it off any longer, so she poured him a cup, stirred in two sugars (the way she remembered he liked it) and bravely approached his bed.
“Jack,” she said softly, but he didn’t respond. “I’ve made you a cup of tea… you look like you have a sweet tooth, so there’s two heaped spoons in there for you.”
Nell placed the teacup down on the bedside table, noting the redness around his eyes. It was much better than it was, but could still do with a clean. The task she had been putting off all morning.
With a kidney dish full of boiled water, a handful of swabs, and some antiseptic ointment, Nell stood
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