Had it already been a month Eric laid sprawled on the hospital bed? He was caught in the middle of a land mind that exploded not far from him. The shrapnel had entered his eyes, leaving him blind. He also suffered a deep wound on his thigh when the shards from the explosive was imbedded in his thigh. For that agonizing month he gave hell to all the staff that tended to him. He was rude, loud and very mean tempered when the nurses tried to help him. Almost all who were assigned to him, asked for a transfer.

Elaina felt sorry for the bitter man in Ward 8. She always heard him shouting angrily at the nurses. She'd always take a peek into his ward on her way to her station. He'd be sitting next to the window with his back facing her. The war had taken a toll on everyone. Young soldiers who were brought in injured will be deployed out right after the Doctor approved they were fit to go back to war. Her former patient was just deployed a day ago and she was pending a case. "Elaina, things are slow at the moment. So I'd recommend you take the children's wing" Doc. Grishm said as he read her personal folder.

"Actually Doctor…I was thinking of taking up the patient in Ward 8" Elaina spoke, her voice steady and confident.

Doc. Grishm looked up from the folder and studied her. "John Doe? You sure? Even the senior nurses couldn't handle him".

Elaina lifted her chin, proud and determined "I want to help him" she insisted.

Doc. Grishm nodded "Alright. But I warn you, he can be very… difficult. If you have any problem just let me know. I'll get Nurse Agatha to pass down his stats by the end of the day". Elaina thanked him and waited for his former care to brief her on her new ward.

Xx

"Good morning" Elaina chirped in happily with a tray of food in her hand. Eric was seated in a wheelchair by the window. He turned his head slightly over his shoulder "Not hungry" he replied instantly when the smell of food filled the room. He was clearly irritated at the unfamiliar voice. He was used to getting different nurses to tend to him; he always succeeded in chasing them away. This one was no different. He gave her a day.

Elaina placed the tray on the table and walked over to him. She knelt down next to him, "My name is Elaina. I'm your new nurse" she held out her hand but quickly retrieved it back when she remembered he couldn't see. If it wasn't for the bandages on his eyes, she'd see him roll his eyes at her. "I brought breakfast" she added gently.

Eric turned and barked "Are you deaf? Or Stupid? I just said I'm not hungry".

"I need to give you your medication. You have to eat or something or you'd have gastritis" Elaina reasoned as she unlocked the wheels of the wheelchair with her foot. She pushed him to the table and adjusted the height of the table. Eric kept quiet and complied; he needed the pain killers for his leg. Like a stubborn child, he took two big scoops of rice, chomped it down and banged the spoon on the table "Done. Give me my pain killers and leave me alone"

Elaina shook her head and gave him his medication. "I'll come by to change your dressing later" she said quietly. She wasn't going to let him bully her, she thought to herself.