Chapter XIV:
"Hey you. Ah see you're feelin' a little
better."
"I guess so." She took a seat beside
him, seeing that at least the pain from the fever wasn't quite so
much, as it didn't cause any visible discomfort.
"Mind if Ah look you over?"
"Go ahead." She tried not to notice
how clouded over his eyes were. That there was a sense of
realization and pain already present from earlier happenings. It
pained her to think that in a few short moments she would have to
make the pain even worse for him. Moving down to his leg, she
lifted up the blanket covering it and gently peeled off the
bandages. The smell instantly met her nose, and she had to force
herself not to cringe. Gangrene made the limb affected decompose.
She knew that. She just didn't know how rapidly it took affect.
Biting her lip, she tapped on his leg.
"You feel that?"
"Feel what?" She shook her head, not
able to answer his question. "Is your name... Marie?"
Her eyes lifted and she looked at him, hardly capable of covering
her surprise.
"What makes you think that's mah
name?"
"Sergeant Wolverine is my platoon
officer."
"That so?" She knew she wasn't
fooling anyone with her nonchalant attitude, but it made her feel
a little better to keep up the act, so she did so. After
carefully cleaning out the wound, she re-wrapped it in bandages
and covered his leg back up with the blankets. "Well, in
that case, you're right. Ah am Marie."
"He said... you're the only reasonable
nurse here." She laughed, leaning back against the chair and
shaking her head, knowing full well that was something he would
say. She also knew it was the truth.
"Ah suppose Ah am. What of it?"
"Tell me what's wrong with me." She
looked at him in silence, not sure if he really wanted to hear,
and not sure if she wanted to tell him.
"You got a girl back home, sugah?"
Changing the subject. It was a talent she had begun to fail at,
ever since trying it on Logan. It was just as effective on the
boy before her.
"Tell me." For a moment she froze.
The phrase sounded too familiar. Say it. Say it. Tell me. Tell
me. She shook her head to clear her thoughts and lightly patted
the hand that rest beside hers.
"Ah'm not sure you're ready to hear tha
truth yet."
"After what I saw out there... I'm ready
to hear anything." When she still remained silent, he
sighed, looking away from her. "That bad, huh?"
"It's curable..."
"How? Through amputation?" Marie
faintly felt herself nodding in reply. "Gangrene."
"How'd you know?"
"My father's a doctor. He's tried curing
it for a while now." For a moment, an awkward silence fell
between them, both too absorbed in their own thoughts to venture
toward a comfortable conversation. After some time, he finally
broke the silence. "Hey... can you do me a favor?"
"Yes sir. What can Ah help you with?"
"Can you write a letter for me?"
"Of course. Just a second." Pushing
aside the sadness that constantly plagued her heart lately, she
got up and retrieved a sheet of paper and something to write
with. Sitting back beside him, she listened carefully as he told
her exactly what to write. Later, with the letter accomplished,
she folded it up and put it in an envelope, promising to send it
the next day. The moment he fell asleep, she took a short break
of her own.
Logan,
Remember the boy I told you about in my
last letter? He knows you. He says he was in your platoon at one
time. Name's Robert Drake.
He's a good kid. The war's ruined him a
little, I think. Made him grow up too fast. His leg isn't getting
any better. We tried the irrigation tactics... but they haven't
been working. We can't postpone the surgery any longer. It's set
up for tomorrow morning, bright and early.
I wonder how much this will change his
life. I know I shouldn't... it's not my business to care. But I
do care, all the same. I think about what he might have done
before all of this, and now, what he'll do after. How much of an
impact will this have on his future? He's got a girl back home.
Someone named Jenn. He asked me to write her a letter today. He
told her everything. Asked her to marry him when he got home.
What happens if she says no? What if she decides she doesn't want
to put up with a cripple? God Logan... it's not right. He was so
happy when he was talking about her. What if she writes back that
she doesn't have time to care for him? What if...
How long before the war is over? I miss
you...
Love always,
Marie