When Tomorrow Never Came (Revised)

Chapter 1

If I was a green nurse still wet behind the ears then the screams of agony that echoed through the field tent would have sent shivers through my body, and my hands would be trembling from the crimson color of blood that now covered my white uniform. I wasn't though. I had seen it all, from torn limbs to decapitated heads. There was nothing on this February day in the blazing hot African desert after the long series of battles in Kasserine that could surprise me.

My blonde curls clung to my sweaty forehead and neck while I went from cot to cot swimming in the aftermath of our defeat. The casualties were in the thousands and it seemed the more us field nurses and doctors worked the more we lost. Each soldier I helped tension of frustration tightened inside me. Each person I had to push past to get to the next poor soul tightened my lungs forcing me to carefully sip the rust scented air.

My thoughts began to jumble when I could hear shouting between two lieutenant nearby the soldier I was currently tending to. I turned to the next cot and felt a hand gently grab my elbow to turn me around.

"Is the casualty report ready, ma'am?" Asked the man who had been doing all the shouting. The question was an innocent one, but it alone caused me to snap throughout my body.

"Does it look like it's available to you Lieutenant?" I growled realizing I just mouthed off to the wrong people. The blood drained from my face and all I could do to save myself from embarrassment was to pinch my forehead and let out a deep breath, " I'm sorry... that was a bit abrasive, please, just give us a few more hours while we weed through here and you'll have your report lieutenant" I said. The man went to open his mouth only to be interrupted by the screams of the poor soul I had just helped.

"They're everywhere… EVERYWHERE '' cried the traumatized soldier. His eyes rampant with fear while he clutched his shoulder we had extracted a bullet from just hours ago. I turned to him interrupting the lieutenants while other staff herded them a few steps away.

"It's alright your safe" I assured him. His forehead felt like lava, while sweat poured from his body as he tore at his clothes. I went to give him something for his fever when he grabbed my wrist and let out a growl sending chills through my spine. "Let me get you something to help you," I ordered, trying to pull away. My heart pounded harder as my feet froze in fear.

"Give away my position and I'll kill you Kraut!" He hissed

"I need restraints and aid here!" I cried out into the busy tent. I turned back to look at him only to feel pressure on my throat, and pain rattling through my body from the man slamming to the ground. Fear washed over me, everyone and everything disappeared around me while I scratched and kicked unable to scream while he choked me harder. 

His nails dragged against my neck as he was finally pulled away by the lieutenant I had just mouthed off to. My lungs burned while I desperately inhaled the air around me. My eyes watered as I coughed and gasped, adding to the boiling frustration inside me. The lieutenant offered to help me up. I looked around while he helped me up and saw the lieutenant who had been getting yelled at earlier helping another nurse restrain the man and to sedate him. Once I was on my feet I gave the man before me the biggest glare I could muster

"While I appreciate the help just now, isn't there a different place where you can wait for your casualty report and talk about this colossal screw up? " I asked, pushing past the men while scurrying back to work.

"Sorry about her, sir, ‘she's a very get the work done type’, not exactly one for chit chatting" one of the field nurses said to the two men as I hurried back to work.

 I rolled my eyes and called her back to work "Herston, I still see three yellow ribbons and five whites maybe you should get on those instead chit chatting" I called over to her, reminding her of the work to be done