Doubt Thou Stars Are Fire

Chapter One

The first memory I have of this place was a injured man throwing up blood onto me. I remember Matron Mary pulling me into a small tent with five men practically laying on top of each other, practically screaming in pain. Needless to say, I was in absolute shock. Today, a year after my first memory, I was graduating to being a matron. Matron Winnifred. Mary smiled as she gave me my new uniform. I didnt put it on but I held it tightly in my quivering hands. I was shocked with Mary told me she was stepping down and asking me to step up to her role as Matron. I remember asking her if she was sure of this decision. She replied that she was my mentor and she saw me fit for this place. I remember her tight hug and the celebration after.

Now, I enter a new chapter. The carriage I was in lulled me, I clutched the letters my husband gave me before I left the home to help at a new camp. The sun began to drift between the trees and settle in my hair. The gray haired gentleman across from me hasn't looked up from his book in the last hour. I see smoke up ahead, the horse's steps are louder than ever. Is this anxiety? I bit my lip as we approached. I thumbed the letters for comfort, the letters stacked in order were: My husband, Jack, Mary, and Jane, and Abigail. My parent's letters were at the bottom. The carriage stopped and I got out of the cramped carriage. I tipped my head at the driver and he drove off.
The camp wasn't like my old one. This was out in the woods, not on the outskirts of town. Was this a farm? I trodden through a field before I reached the camp. I was stopped by a soldier in blue,"Matron Winifred?" He asked me. I simply nodded and bowed my head.

"At your services, I was told to come to this camp. You needed another matron?"
"We do, follow me." His deep voice didn't quite connect with his young face. He brought me into a tent on the outskirts of the encampment and left me at the opening,"Matron Florence has been waiting for your arrival." I pushed open the curtains and saw a pretty young woman sitting at a desk, scribbling words on a page. Her dark and curly hair flowed down her back. The coils bounced as she moved. Her olive skin glimmered in the dying candle light.
"Winifred, right?" She asked, not looking up from her writing. I stuck the letters in my pocket and nodded quickly.
"Yes, I assume you are Florence?" Her face moved away from the paper and revealed her beauty to me. Her forest green eyes complimented her complexion as pink does to white. "Pardon me, your beauty proceeds you." I looked away, my face beginning to blush.
"Florence Bianchi." She said, standing up and holding out her hand,"and your kindness proceeds you." She took my hand in hers and shook it firmly,"it's an honor to meet the youngest matron."
I blushed even harder,"Hardly 17." I smiled,"how old are you?"
"Only twenty." She studied the ring on my finger,"Married?" She let go.
"It'll have been a year in June." I smiled,"and you?"
"Engaged. May I held you to chamomile tea or mint?"
"Not at all," I thanked her,"you could show me where I may be sleeping tonight, the soldiers are wondering where to put my luggage."
"It'll be the tent next to mine, you will be working tomorrow morning, meeting the patients and other nurses in the camp, so be ready for a busy day." She warned.
"I'll be fine with that, thank you." I smiled backing away,"May I be excused?" I asked
"Yes, and actually, if you want to begin visiting patients now-"
"Don't have to ask me twice, Florence." I smiled.
"I like you," she grinned back,"sleep well."
"And you." I said, leaving the tent quickly. Did the blush on my face finally disappear? I touched my hot cheeks and sighed. Lanterns in the tents made them look like monstrously large lightning bugs. I started with the tent closest to mine. I pushed through the flap and saw a older man with grating hair lying in the bed, he looked asleep so I backed out after turning out his lamp. The next one had a man, he was sweating feverishly and watched me enter,"hello," I whispered.
"You are?" He asked. His voice was raspy and slow.
"Winifred Artois, I'm the new matron." I smiled. He nodded and asked me to leave, for he was tired. He reached and turned out his own lantern. The fall air whipped around my head, causing my dark red hair to spill onto my face. I pulled it back and headed to another tent. I stepped in and saw a handsome young man lying on the bed. I quickly tried to flatten my hair. He sat up and groaned as he did so. "I-I'm sorry, did I disturb you?"
"No, you're just fine." He paused,"I haven't seen you before, who are you?" His light brown hair was a mess, even his small braid was tousled.
"Winifred Artois." I said, tucking a piece of my unruly hair behind my ear. Oh, his eyes were captivating. They were as deep and as blue as the ocean itself.
"Captain Tallmadge." He gave me a weakened smile, the bandage across his chest hinted that he has been badly hurt. He wasn't new to battle it looked like from the bullet scar on his lower shoulder.
"Oh!" I bowed my head,"it's an honor to Ben in your presence, Captain."
"Thank you." He began to lie back down and let out a painful moan. I hurried over to him.
"Let me help you," I placed my hand on his back and shoulder and lightly helped him down,"Don't want anyone to be in more pain than they need to be."
"You aren't new to this," he lied back and stared up at me.
"I'm working alongside Matron Bianchi. I'm a Matron too."
"Oh, really?" He said, lifting up his hand and rubbing his eye with the back of his palms,"I didn't know we needed two of them."
"The camp is quite expansive." I said, pulling the plain linen over his chest and reaching out to turn out his light,"Sleep well Captain, I'll see you tomorrow."
"I bid you good night too, Matron..."
"Artois," I commented while walking out of the tent. I sighed and looked up at the moon. The brightness served as a light and lead me to my tent next to Florence's. It wasn't shabby by any means. A stack of three medical books sat on my bed. I picked them up and set them on the desk at the end of the tent. I fumbled with pulling out my bundle of letters and setting them next to the books. The Captain's face danced through my mind as I lied down. His soft voice played over in my mind as the sheets came around me. I reminded myself of my husband as I shut my eyes.