Save each other // Joel Miller

Deal

Sophie's day was normal, relatively. At least, a bit more normal than it had been in a few weeks. After her episodic breakdown, the rest of the community was apprehensive to interact with her. That made working the clinic shifts a little harder. People would walk in, see her sitting at the desk, and turn tail. But after a nice long conversation with the council and a public announcement, things were going back to, well, normal.

Sophie sat behind the clinic desk, legs propped up and crossed, reading through the last book on medicinal local plants when she heard the door creek open. She stuck her nose out of the book to peek over it. Maria stood in the doorway, a metallic cylinder in one hand and a water bottle in the other. She walked over slowly and place the items in front of Sophie as she kicked her feet to the floor and dog eared her page.

"Figured you might be hungry. Brought some broth and water." Maria had been checking up on her at least once a day since their little encounter on the porch. Sophie smiled gratefully and took the thermos, unscrewing the top, and smelling the broth. Humming in satisfaction she took a sip as Maria sat in a seat across from her.

"Thank you." Sophie muttered between gulps. In all honesty, Sophie had been skipping meals to learn about her job, a little catching up being necessary since the accident.

"No problem. You are really diving deep." She nodded, gesturing to the closed book between them. Sophie's eye lit up, excitedly nodding before she finished her last sip. She wiped the dribble of soup off her chin to Maria's amusement.

"Yes!" Sophie picked up the book and flipped to the first highlighted page. "I have been marking some flowers and herbs I think would really help around here. Making a grocery list, if you will." She pushed the book over so Maria could look at it and pointed to the first circled item.

"This is Achillea Millefolium, or Yarrow, and it's properties can be made into an ointment for antibacterial cream, or tea for pain relief. I've read you can just chew on the leaves to help with tooth pain!" Maria chuckled under her breath as Sophie rattled on, not stopping before moving in to the next subject. She watched as the red haired girl flicked each page.

"Here." She finally stopped on a random spot in the book, a lined note pad paper with scribbles and words all over it, and she picked it up and handed it to Maria. Maria looked over the sheet, recognizing some of the words from her speech, and the black ink crudely illustrating the plants. "I know the pictures arnt great, I'm not an artist by any means, but I hoped they would help the next scouting crew find some and bring them home for me."

Maria gave the note one more once over before folding it in half and giving it back to Sophie. Sophie furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. Was Maria denying her request?

"They won't need this." She began and stood up from her chair. She shifted the book back towards Sophie with a wide grin. "Because you will be going to pick these." Sophie's confusion melted to shock with a slight shake of her head. Was she serious? No one even dared let Sophie think she could leave the walls after her 'stunt.' Even after pleading on Sophie's part. The council thought it was reckless and Joel thought it too dangerous.

"Me? Leave the walls?" Maria nodded at Sophie, crossing her arms over her chest and leaning her hip on the desk. "But what about the ruling? And Joel?"

"Don't worry about the council. I can explain. It's just too important to you and to our people to get ahold of these plants." Maria said. "And Joel will be coming with you."

Sophie's heart was leaping out of her chest in excitement. As much as she loved the sanctuary of Jackson, she felt she wasn't being as useful as she could be. Almost everyone with her health and abilities went outside the walls at least once to help with watch or scavenging. She knew with a chance she could prove her worth to the people of the community, and this was her chance.