Author's Notes: The Sound of Music is owned by 20th Century Fox.
Chapter Four – Collapse
Awaking Maria from her own little world and thoughts, Maria's fellow roommate, Therese questioned, "Maria, aren't you coming with us to Vespers?" as she motioned towards the dormitory doorway.
"No, I'm not feeling very well," responded Maria, rather flatly – having spent the greater part of the afternoon in the chapel. Doubt, confusion and anguish were now taking their toll on Maria's tired frame.
The more compassionate roommate, Anna, looked at Maria with all sympathy and said, "I noticed your empty space in the refectory. You haven't had anything to eat all day! Perhaps, if I get you some toast and tea, it might settle you a little."
"Thank you Anna. I think I'll just try and rest … perhaps a little sleep will do the trick," said Maria as she moved from the table in the middle of the room towards her bed.
" 'Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: so shall thy poverty come' …" echoed Therese walking out the door.
"There's no harm in resting, Therese! Even our Saviour, Jesus needed sleep!" called Anna. Then turning back towards Maria, "Are you sure you don't need anything?"
"Just peace, that's all … thanks Anna." With that, Maria sat down gently upon her bed.
Satisfied with the answer, Anna also walked out the door and headed towards the chapel.
No more than ten minutes had passed and back in bustled Anna, thinking to herself, "I can't believe I forgot my prayer book," and then exclaiming, "I certainly need to break this habit before I take my vows!" Shaking her head, then chuckling to herself in disbelief, she looked towards Maria's bed, where Maria was nowhere to be found.
"That's odd …" she said, then walked cautiously around the bed …
"Maria? … oh no, Maria!" Maria had collapsed in a dead heap on the floor!
Not knowing what to do, Anna panicked, ran out the door and happened to run into Sister Sophia who was also on her way to evening prayers.
"Sister Sophia! Maria's collapsed … I don't know what to do!" The women both hastened back into the tiny room to see Maria lying there out cold.
Giving instructions, Sister Sophia motioned, "Anna, take her arms, I'll take her legs, and on the count of three, we'll lift her up onto the bed … one, two, three … ugh … that's it! Good girl!" Noticing how flushed Maria looked, Sister Sophia felt Maria's forehead then exclaimed "She's burning … Anna, you'd better go and find Sister Berthe, I'll stay here and keep a close eye on Maria."
"Is … is she going to be alright?" queried Anna.
"You know what Maria's like … I'm sure she'll be fine. Now go, quickly!" replied Sister Sophia turning her attention back towards Maria.
Sister Berthe was already in the chapel by this stage. Anna went to find the elderly Sister, and quite embarrassedly motioned for her attention, as nuns have the habit of doing, and tugged at the edge of the Mistress' sleeve.
"Yes, Anna?" questioned Sister Berthe.
"We need your help. Maria has collapsed!"
Sister Berthe quickly got off her knees, "Collapsed? What happened?"
"I don't know Sister. She told me was she was feeling unwell. And when I went back to the room to get my …" Anna realised all details were not necessary, and commenced saying, "when I went back to the room, she was on the floor … that's all I know!"
"I'll go immediately. Thank you, Anna. Now, you stay here for Vespers." Making a similar tug of the sleeve towards Sister Margaretta, Sister Berthe requested her help and the two of them made their way out of the chapel in all haste, but still with the grace that has been passed down through the ages from saintly nuns who have gone on before them.
Fifteen minutes or so later, swiftly making her way down the hallway, Sister Berthe was armed with her medical case and had Sister Margaretta following close at hand. As they neared the room, they could hear a commotion coming from the other side of the door. Sister Margaretta cracked the door open and stuck her head in only to see Maria crying uncontrollably – almost in a fit, and Sister Sophia having great difficulty in calming her down.
"I can't find my Bible, I can't find my Bible!" cried Maria, with tears streaming down her face. "And that passage that talks about … where is it, where is my Bible?"
Sister Margaretta moved towards Maria, put her hands upon Maria's shoulders, as was becoming the custom, and comfortingly said, "Ssshhh, it's alright Maria. Here, we'll find it for you … ssshhhh now …" and motioned for her to lie back down again on the bed.
Sister Berthe had taken her equipment out of the medical case and was attempting to take Maria's temperature. "Ohhh, burning!" she muttered to herself as she withdrew her hand from Maria's forehead. Placing a thermometer close to Maria's mouth, Sister Berthe commanded, "Maria, stick this under your tongue."
Sister Sophia got up from the edge of the bed, and just stood by Sister Margaretta, who had now sat down on the bed to calm Maria. She didn't know whether to leave or to stay, so asked, "Sister Berthe, is there anything I can do?" shrugging her shoulders.
"No, no … thank you Sister," replied Sister Berthe. "Wait. How long has she been like this?" pointing to Maria.
At this stage, Maria again sat up, spat the thermometer out of her mouth and cried, "But Captain, the children's play clothes … I was only trying to help …"
Pushing Maria back down, and sticking the thermometer back into her mouth, Sister Margaretta simply replied, "Maria, lie down. Stay still."
Turning back to Sister Berthe, Sister Sophia questioned, "What do you mean?"
"How long has she been like this?" Sister Berthe replied, and again pointed to Maria, "Delirious! "
"Well, at least for the past 10 minutes. Anna and I found her collapsed on the floor. So picked her up, and put her into bed. I sat by her but she wouldn't respond to my call. I'd call her name, 'Maria … Maria? Hello? … Maria?' but she was out of it," Sister Sophia breathlessly explained. "Soon enough she became restless, then all of a sudden," as she acted out the scene with wide-eyed wonder, "she shot up from her bed and started crying. I couldn't stop her. Then all this nonsense started pouring out, and that's when you walked in."
Sister Berthe – being a woman after all, and that is to imply multi-talented – stood bent over the tiny basin filled with water in the corner of the room, and listened to the conversation while also preparing something for Maria to take. "Well, her temperature is exorbitant, and we're going to have to get it to come back down to normal." Walking back over to Maria, she leant over the young girl saying, "Here, Maria, sip this …" putting a cup of some medicine mixed with water towards her mouth. "Margaretta, you're going to have to help her holding the cup."
Taking the cup, and with a querying look, Sister Margaretta asked, "What's the matter with her, Sister?"
"Undoubtedly she's got a fever. But the cause of it, I don't know. It could be anything … a cold, a virus, bronchitis … and until her temperature comes down, there's nothing we can really do," answered Sister Berthe, then continuing with a thankful smile, "Thank you Sister Sophia. You can go now."
Sister Sophia looked towards Sister Margaretta, who then nodded her head, with a smile, in assurance that she could go. All was safe now.
"Margaretta, will you stay here with Maria? You'll have to watch her. I'll go and notify Reverend Mother of what's going on. If you notice any change in her temperature – or of her behaviour – come and get me immediately!"
"Yes, Sister Berthe," nodded Sister Margaretta as she turned her focus back onto Maria.
Sister Berthe left the room, absentmindedly taking the thermometer with her. And as the door closed, a small whimper was heard coming from Maria. She looked up at Sister Margaretta and with tears glistening in her eyes, quietly cried, "Sister … love … she didn't mean it … not me … not really."
Not knowing what Maria was talking about, Sister Margaretta quietly stroked her face and said with a motherly tone, "It's alright Maria. Close your eyes. Calm down … close your eyes … sssshhhh … try and get some rest now."
Author's Note: Feel free to comment, readers. I'd love to know what your thoughts and feelings are, as this is my first FanFiction. Please enjoy!