Prompt: Role Model

From: I'm Nova

….

Our dear, long suffering landlady, Mrs. Hudson, ensures we receive the newspaper and any mail Holmes and I have whilst we partake in her delicious breakfasts.

And today was no exception, for she brought us The Times and a stack of letters and placed everything by my elbow.

"There you are, gentlemen." She said. "Will that be all?"

"Yes, thank you Mrs. Hudson," I said gratefully. She nodded in reply and swept out of the room with her mastered grace and quiet dignity.

"Well, Watson, let's see if we have anything of interest!" Holmes said gleefully, rubbing his hands together expectantly.

"Don't get too excited, Holmes," I warned, as I opened an envelope. It contained a thank you letter from one of my patients.

It read:

'Dear Doctor Watson,

I am writing to you to thank you for helping me cure my son's pneumonia. Your dedication and patience.

Yours,

Emily Downwell'

It was…. Well, it was polite and cordial, but it also felt artificial to me, for reasons I could not determine. I sighed, placing the letter to the side.

"Is something the matter, Watson?" Holmes asked. "A patient passed away in the night?"

"No, nothing of the matter," I said, not even bothering to chastise him for his glacial bluntness. "I…it's nothing important, my dear Holmes."

"Hm. But it is bothering you, regardless, my dear fellow. More coffee?" He asked, to change the subject.

I nodded and reached for another letter as he poured me a second coffee. I mumbled a quiet thank you to my flatmate and tore open the letter with unprecedented dread.

It was another 'thank you' letter to me, but instead of the artificial first letter, this one felt more…. vibrant and warm.

It read as follows:

'Dear Doctor Watson,

You might not remember me, but I remember you. You helped me deliver my first child two months ago. Little John Thomas is doing very well, and so am I. Your compassion and earnestness to help when I was unexpectedly going into labour has inspired me to become a doctor. I know that there are prejudices against women going into 'male dominated' professions, but I do not care for that in the slightest. If our gracious Queen could overcome all odds for her country, I shall overcome the same odds for my kinsmen and women.

Thank you, John Watson, for being such an inspiration to all you help and kindness to me, when I was alone and at my most vulnerable. May God bless you and keep you in good health for the rest of your days

Yours truly,

Flora Lark,'

I smiled at the sight of this letter. I did remember the patient in question- she was out running errands when she unexpectedly went into labor near the butchers' store. Fortunately, Holmes and I were partaking in a walk around London and came across the unfortunate woman, so I offered my medical assistance, despite the social abnormality of it.

"Well, looks like you have become a role model, Watson," Holmes remarked, taking a bite of bacon.

"So I have, Holmes, so I have," I answered. "Now I feel much better."

"Good, because I have a case- may I count on your assistance?" he asked, pointing his greasy, empty fork at me.

"I'm your man." I answered.

"Excellent! I will give the details in the cab! Come, my dear doctor- the game is afoot!"