When a soldier gets carried into the hospital ward after a tunnel collapsed on him, nurse Mae is keen to get him back up on his feet. After he is healed, he has no choice to go back into battle and fight in the Somme, thinking the two would never se...
Standing in the dim light of the ward, the faint sounds of distant artillery echo through Paisleys mind. She couldn't help but reflect on why she chose this path. The world has plunged into chaos, and here she was, a nurse in the midst of it all.
She remembers the day she made her decision. She was sitting in the families little sitting room, listening to her father recount stories of bravery and sacrifice. The men in the small town were leaving, some to the front, others to never return. She felt a stirring deep within her, a mix of dread and determination. She couldn't just sit idly by, watching others risk everything while she remained safe.
There was something noble about it-about being part of something larger than herself. She wanted to be there for those who had lost so much, to help heal the wounds that ran deeper than the flesh. She wanted to provide comfort where there was pain, to bring hope to those who had seen too little of it.
But it's not just the desire to help that drives her; it's the stories of resilience she witness every day. Each soldier that comes through these doors carries a fragment of home, a piece of their dreams, even as they grapple with nightmares that haunt them. They remind her of the fragility of life and the strength that resides within us all.
Yet, there are moments when fear creeps in. She saw the toll this war took on her fellow nurses and the patients alike-long nights, endless cries for help, and the constant shadow of loss. But she remembered why she was there. She was there to stand alongside them, to be their advocate, their source of comfort in a world that has become unrecognizable.
She chose this not just for the men, but for Herself-to discover the strength she didn't know she had. She was not just a nurse; she was a witness to resilience, a bearer of compassion in this turbulent sea. Shes found purpose in the chaos, and she knew that, despite the heartache, she was exactly where she's meant to be.
𓈒⠀𓂃⠀⠀˖⠀𓇬⠀˖⠀⠀𓂃⠀𓈒
"Miss Mae!" Someone yells, knocking Paisley out of the concentration she had gained whilst folding patients robes.
In a few flash moments, the sound of groans and soldiers yelling bursted her eardrums. A sound she had gotten very used to after all these months. Turning her head, she was met with the grueling sight of a soldier, being hurled into the room. Eyes widening, she quickly took a stand to aid the men carrying him.
"What's happened?" Paisleys voice comes out, small wavers of concern following along with it. She took the soldiers left arm in her gentle grip, guiding him to lay on the bed.
It is only then when she took in the soldiers appearance properly. Muddied face, dirty hands, and most importantly- a large gash on his thigh. Her first thought was that he was from the front line.
"Tunneller." A gravely voice spoke up from the bed, catching Paisley off guard. "The tunnel fell on us. Barley made it out 'meself."
She dragged her eyes to meet his own, the breath immediately being sucked out of her throat as she met his piercing blue eyes.
His pupils bore into her own, catching the words she was about to say. For a few beats, they didn't say anything. They stared at eachother, as if each soul is apart of their own.
Snapping out of her gaze, she quickly drew her attention to the cloth loosely bandaged around his upper thigh. Deep, red liquid sickly oozes out of the cut, staining the cream fabric. She quickly adjusted the white gloves that fit her hands, and slowly removed the cloth.
As the cut appears, she heard the soldier suck in a small breath of air; quickly making the move to distract him.
"What's your name? Mines Paisley." She said with a soft smile, beginning to clean his wound.
"Thomas. Thomas Shelby. 'Me brothers are here too, Arthur and John." He huffs out, teeth clamped together as she placed a cloth dampened with alcohol onto the more exposed areas of the wound.
Shelby...
She quickly joined the dots, and realized that she had treated the eldest brother a few weeks ago for a minor case of 'Trench Foot.' A bright soul he is, couldn't stop making crude jokes in an attempt to get her to smile.
She found herself smirking slightly at the thought of him, prompting her to speak up. "Arthur is one of my favorite patients. Relentless, that one is..." she chuckled softly, finishing up cleaning his wound. She dresses it quickly in hopes to numb the pain, her gentle touch sending shivers down Thomas' shoulders.
"Eh, that 'e is." Thomas chuckled lightly, his thick Birmingham accent evident. He wiped a hand under his nose, Paisley taking him in.
Grabbing a wet cloth, she approached his face cautiously, hesitantly beginning to wipe the mud off his face.
The outcome of the Somme was heartbreaking. The pain and suffering in Thomas' eye shining like the brightest stars. Seeing what these soldiers go through causes Paisleys heart to sink a little farther each day passing.
What used to be a bright, lush-filled field, is now one big mud filled crater. The Somme used to be beautiful. Now all it is, is a dull, trauma blossoming grove.
As Paisley focused on gently scrubbing the mud off Thomas' face, his pain filled eyes; focused on her.
For Thomas, this moment of solace was the first he had felt since he arrived at the Somme all those months ago. He felt safe- he felt vulnerable.
Letting Paisleys soft fingers graze his skin was the most comforting feeling in the entire universe.
He cherished it whilst he still could.
Tossing the now bloodied rag into the washing basket, Paisley made her way over to where the nurses kept the clean blankets. Making her way back over to the injured soldier, she takes her time tucking him in comfortably.
"Now, Thomas, I will be back in a few hours to check on you and re-dress your wound. While im gone, I expect you to get some well needed rest. Am I clear?" Paisley spoke, her firm tone betrayed with a small smile.
Thomas clears his throat, shuffling around in the bed to get into a comfortable position. "All ears, Miss Mae." He smiles softly, taking the brunette nurse in once more before closing his eyes.
𓈒⠀𓂃⠀⠀˖⠀𓇬⠀˖⠀⠀𓂃⠀𓈒
══════════════════ 1.1k words - "All ears, Miss Mae."
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