Warrior Nun: The aftermath

Chapter 24

"Beatrice."

Someone gently put his hand on her shoulder and shook her slightly. She quickly opened her eyes and realized where she was. Bea had fallen asleep with her head on Ava's bed. When she sat up, her back hurt and she realized again that she was more non-metrically resilient than she had been ten years ago.

"You should really eat something."

She knew how badly she was treating her body right now, but how could she have a healthy one if her heart wasn't too?

"No thanks, not right now."

She looked sympathetically at Mother Superior's eyes.

"You're going through a lot right now. Both of you. If there's anything I can do, you can come to me at any time."

"Thank you. I'd just like to understand."

Mother Superior sighed and sat down opposite her on a chair on the other side of Ava's bed.

"There are things that are not easy to explain and understand. Unfortunately, Ava is a part of that." 

"Not so long ago, it was the only thing in the world that I understood. Now she become so strange to me that I question it almost every second we spend together."

"She's changed. Most compared to her first day as a warrior nun. To put it well, I'd say she grown. Grown up,  become wiser, smarter and, above all, stronger. I don't know her as well as you do Beatrice, but I would trust her with my life every day.  It's not entirely clear what path she's going and what decisions she's making, but we have to trust that Ava is doing the right thing." 

It felt so much better to hear how much Mother Superior trusted Ava and still saw the good. Having a conversation with her was also so good for Beatrice. After she was sent to the convent and later taken in by the OCS, she found something very similar to a family in her sisters and a mother in mother superior.

It was all the more important to Beatrice that she learned the truth about her and Ava.

"Ava and I..." began Beatrice. "We..."

"I know. It would be hard to miss."

Was that a good thing or a bad thing? She couldn't really classify it. There was a trace of regret in the look of Mother Superior. Why? 

"Ava is an incredibly strong young woman, just like you, but you should take good care of each other and become even stronger together. It bears a lot of responsibility. A responsibility that far exceeds mine as a warrior nun at the time."

"I can't imagine how much Ava has to deal with right now. That's why I want to be there for her and support her, but she always pushes me away easily and is never completely honest."

"It's love Beatrice. As much as you want to protect her, she wants to protect you. Ava stepped out of the shadows to save you, even though it would have put her mission and herself in danger."

Astonished by Mother Superior's openness, Beatrice looked at her and let everything sink in for the moment.

"You should do everything you can to make sure they know for sure. I couldn't and lost my love. Don't let any of you have to live with the same regrets. I'm doing my part by accompanying you to dinner now. I don't want Ava to be frightened when she sees you as soon as she wakes up."

Somehow overwhelmed by this conversation, Beatrice followed her without saying a word. Come what may, she would protect Ava. Even if it was once necessary, in front of herself.

-

Something was strange. Ava felt more and more sluggish and tired.

"Weakness is your mortal body. You're only half in our world. That's why you have to go back. Like I said, time is limited."

"Am I ready to go? Am I able to protect myself adequately?"

"You are even able to protect someone else with a lot of effort. But it would cost you a lot of strength and weaken you."

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. A saying that Mary had said in between and is still Ava's new life motto today.

"We will get in touch a few more times. Until then, you should take good care of yourself and your world, young warrior nun."

With a grateful nod, Ava turned and closed her eyes. If she had to describe it, it was like waking up from a dream. Only this time it was less pleasant. Slowly, she felt her body again and she came to herself trying to open her eyes. A bright band of light stretched across the ceiling, and it took her eyes a moment to get used to it. It was hard for her to breathe, something was stuck in her throat. When she tried to raise her hand, it was held back with an unpleasant pain. On the back of her hand was the access for an infusion. Where the hell was she? The room was rather old, but the appliances were modern and apparently expensive. There was no point in panicking. With her eyes closed, she concentrated on breathing. She had to hold out until someone came. In fact, she could hear voices in the distance. Even though Ava listened closely, she couldn't tell exactly who was talking, but she suspected Beatrice and Camila.

"What did Jillian say about that?"

"Not much yet, but the scans were all negative, as expected."

"I just don't understand why she doesn't wake up. The last time it was just hours when she just woke up in her bed, now it's been almost two weeks and still nothing."

"I can't say what it is. The different time flows alone make it complicated to calculate how long Ava is actually gone and what could happen during that period. Questions about what would happen if she died over there or here. Would her mind be trapped there, or would her body also die of brain death here? Beatrice, we don't know."

"That's what gets me down. I don't know how to help. I feel so useless watching her almost killing herself  every time. Camila, I can't hold her dead in my arms again. Not again."

A firm lump pressed Ava into the pit of her stomach. She was aware of how difficult it was for Beatrice, but she never wanted to hurt her lover.

"I'll check the values again and then come back tonight. Lilith has found something and needs me, Yasmine and Vincent for it."

The voices came closer and closer, and Ava didn't know what to do. Make yourself felt and get that tube out of your throat, or wait and see what Beatrice is doing. She chose the second and watched through minimally open eyes as the two nuns entered the room. Ava immediately noticed how much Beatrice had lost weight. Her habit was no longer so tight to her body, but more reminiscent of baggy sweatpants.

"Pulse and blood pressure are even better than yesterday at this time."

Camila's voice sounded hopeful. And rightly so, Ava thought.

"Then we hope she wakes up again soon. Slowly, I can't stand it without Ava anymore. It's there, but somehow is not."

"She's going to wake up soon, Beatrice. Definitely. I have to go, I'll see you later."

"See you later."

Ava could hear Camila's footsteps moving away and Beatrice sitting next to her. Gently, she took her hand and stroked it, then Bea stroked a strand of hair behind her ear.

"You should really wake up slowly. I just can't imagine anothe day without you smiling."

Everything was tightening in Ava and she had to pull herself together not to cry like Beatrice.

"I don't want to lose you again." Beatrice sobbed and rested her head on Ava's stomach.

It almost broke her heart to see her so strong and confident nun like this, so she couldn't take it any longer and just had to open her eyes.

Before I make long speeches at the end, I would like to say thank you. To all those who read my story and follow it until now. I am so grateful for each and every one of them and I am happy that you like it so much.

THANK YOU to all of you!