Remedy

18

Day in and day out the ships came and went, Dot lost count of the amount of brave faced men and boys she'd seen litter through the makeshift camp. Some of them would pay the hospital a bit of attention before continuing on their way.

The man on the stretcher, despite all the effort George and her and the other nurses put into it, the man didn't make it. She didn't know his name, it was strange. He was improving, and then something must have sparked in his mind and he bit off his tongue.

Admittedly, Dot had never seen so much blood in her life, she had hardened herself against all the injuries she encountered in everyday life. But that much blood was just inhuman, his act of suicide was frowned upon by some of the soldiers who weren't in such bad conditions. Dot had meekly pointed out that the man probably thought he was in an enemy camp and he'd panicked. This caused the soldiers to frown at her, some even scoffed at her idea.

It was then that her mind travelled to the first day here, when she'd seen all those twitching figures who would drift in and out of reality. The soldier probably suffered from shell shock, some of the other sufferers had injured themselves in some small way.

There wasn't too much the nurses could do with some of the soldiers except keep them company and make them as comfortable as possible. Those who had been blinded by gas were forever calling out for someone, anyone, they just wanted to know they weren't alone.

"What's it like?" One of the blinded asked, Dot often visited this man. His name was Harold, but everyone seemingly called him Harry. He wasn't too much older than herself, if anything he looked about the same age as James.

"It, sir? Sorry it?" Dot patted his bandaged hand. "What is this it?" Harry fidgeted and pulled a pained face, he fell silent and didn't answer her question.

Sitting on the edge of his bed Dot looked towards the doorway, it was raining outside and seemed to make the whole place more bleak. She looked down at her muddied uniform and boots. Earlier on in the day she had to go out with the ambulance and pick some wounded up. It was terrifying, by far it was one of the most terrifying things she'd ever done.

The wire had twisted lifeless figures amongst them, there was a lone tree amongst all the trenches and the bomb cratered horizon, it was charred and there were no leaves growing on it. The whole environment was charred and blackened. There was no sun, there was only grey clouds and rain now and again. It was like the weather was joining in with everyone's moods. It reflected how she felt perfectly.

Noticing Alice run past she frowned. Alice backed up and ran towards her. She practically collapsed on the ground in front of her. "Alice what's wrong?"

"News," she heaved out heavily and put a hand over her chest. "I have news!" She whispered, after all they were surrounded by sleeping figures. Having her shouting out the information she knew surely wouldn't bode well with them.

"And?" Dot questioned, her expression was hopeful but the hope fell and disappeared when Alice looked away from her and sadly down at the ground.

A cold sense of shock enveloped Dot as she stood up and walked out of the hospital. She vaguely heard Margaret exclaiming after her to return. Turning the corner she walked into the roughly made stables. There were five horses in here in total but she was heading towards the only two she knew the names of.

Orion was the first to perk up and looked at her, Fletcher looked up with hay hanging from his mouth. Reaching out she clasped onto both of their heads and cried. She honestly didn't see much point in trying to be strong anymore if the one person she promised to was dead. In her apron the pocket watch never felt more heavier. Since receiving it from Arthur she hadn't taken it out, likewise for the letters she had received too.

Climbing into the pen with Orion, Dot settled down in the corner of it and nestled into the hay. Fletcher leaned over the small wall and looked at her. She was staring straight ahead at nothing in particular. Jumping and shaking her head, she reaching into her pocket and pulled out the small item and crumpled paper.

Sitting and opening and shutting the watch, Dot looked at it, the time was three o'clock looking up at the ceiling she shook her head slowly. That time, on this day was permanently stuck in her head. Opening the envelope roughly Dot tugged out the crumpled paper within it.

My dearest sister.

I can almost picture the expression on your face as you read this. Shock perhaps is close to it. Never fear, your Captain friend says hello, along with Charlie, Tommy and Percy.

Base camp is...a little less to be desired right about now. I am deeply missing that manor back in England. I have to admit though, I think base camp is a lot nicer than the place you're inhabiting. Way to make you feel better, hm? Sorry.

Our separation reminds me of that time we went on holiday with mother and father and the children's quarters were all sectioned off from each other. It was horrible! Can I just express to you now how much I hated that holiday?

It pains me not to be near you, you're my little sister, as your older brother I should be near by if something goes wrong. But then...everything is wrong at the moment is it not?

I have to tell you that we ride out soon.

I hope all is as well as could be at your end.

Take care, Dorothy.

Love always, Arthur.

It was the last letter she had received from him and Arthur couldn't help but be a slight comic relief through it. Dot laughed, although a little bitterly. Putting the letter beside her on the hay she picked up the next one.

Darling, Dorothy.

I have to openly admit that I do not know how to really start this letter. The circumstances for writing this are so different to any other I have written before.

We knew each other for barely a week, and I can freely say that it was one of the most enjoyable – yet surreal considering everything around us – weeks I've had as such. It sounds dramatic, and you will most likely laugh, or smile that smile where you want to laugh but you think against doing so.

We're in such different surroundings I can't even begin to imagine what is surrounding you.

You will be all right though, I know it, I think knowing you'll be all right is what's going to keep Arthur strong through what's to come. It'll also be keeping me going too.

I know that you are reading this before I have even seen any sight of fighting. I can't express now what horrors I may see, but I can say that when I happen to glance at the sky I will think of you pointing out barracudas and frogs.

By the way, Dorothy, that cloud was a dragon. You can argue all you want, but it was a dragon.

I think I should just add in; Joey may be missing your company as much as me. I've wrote more than enough, so much for not knowing how to start the letter, I think I got a little carried away.

All the best;

- Captain James Nicholls.

Dot stared at both the letters and looked up at the two horses who were looking at her. Step one to grieving was well and truly under way. Denial and shock ebbed deep inside her as she crammed the letters back into their correct envelopes and took to seeing to them. She'd pat them both down slowly and took to topping up their food and water before swiftly leaving.

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(Edited: 29/August/2019)