Entwined By Moonlight

Chapter 1: A Wounded Stranger

Amelia Thompson walked briskly through the bustling corridors of the hospital, the sterile scent of antiseptic mingling with the faint hum of machinery. The late afternoon shift was in full swing, and the usual chorus of beeping monitors and hurried footsteps filled the air. Amelia was ready for another long day, her mind still partially on the peace she had left behind in the forest.

Her first stop was Mr. Harris's room. As she approached, she heard the familiar grumbling that had become all too common. The elderly man, whose presence had become a daily test of patience, was at it again.

"—this room is too cold!" Mr. Harris's voice was a sharp, raspy complaint. "And don't get me started on that meal they served me! I asked for chicken, not mystery meat!"

Amelia sighed and pushed open the door, plastering on her most professional smile. "Good afternoon, Mr. Harris. How are we doing today?"

Mr. Harris's eyes narrowed as he took in Amelia's appearance. "About as well as one can expect in this drafty old place. Do you ever get the temperature right in here?"

She forced herself to remain cheerful. "I'll see what I can do about adjusting the temperature for you. In the meantime, let's check your vitals and make sure everything's on track."

As Amelia took his blood pressure and temperature, her colleague, Nurse Jenna, walked in with a stack of medication trays. Jenna shot Amelia a sympathetic look. "Still dealing with Mr. Harris, huh?"

Amelia gave a small, resigned smile. "You know it. The complaints never end."

Jenna chuckled and set the trays down on the counter. "Well, just wait until you have to deal with Mrs. Cartwright in Room 204. She's been demanding the TV remote for the past hour."

Mr. Harris's voice cut through their conversation. "I need more blankets! And could someone please get me a cup of tea? This place is just impossible."

Amelia nodded, her patience stretched thin. "I'll get you those blankets and the tea, Mr. Harris. Just a moment."

She walked out of the room and into the bustling nurse's station, where she was met by Sarah, another colleague. "How's Mr. Harris today?" Sarah asked, glancing up from her computer.

"Oh, you know. Complaining about everything under the sun," Amelia replied, grabbing a stack of blankets from the supply closet. "But I'll manage."

Sarah raised an eyebrow. "He's something else. I heard he's been like this for weeks."

"Yep," Amelia said, her tone reflecting her frustration. "It's like he's got a never-ending list of grievances."

Returning to Mr. Harris's room, Amelia draped the extra blankets over him and handed him a steaming cup of tea. "Here you go, Mr. Harris. I've brought you some extra blankets and your tea."

Mr. Harris took the tea with a grumble. "About time. And this tea better not be as bad as that last one."

Amelia took a deep breath. "I'll make a note to ask the kitchen to improve their tea selection. Now, is there anything else you need?"

The elderly man's eyes twinkled with a glimmer of mischief. "Actually, yes. I'd like to speak to the manager about the service around here."

Amelia's smile tightened. "I'm afraid I'm not the person to handle that. But if you have specific concerns, I'm sure we can address them."

Mr. Harris huffed and settled back into his pillows, muttering under his breath. "I'll be sure to."

As Amelia exited the room, she saw Jenna waiting with a look of sympathy. "How's it going?"