Haaa…..haaa
Joan's breathing gradually quickened as she ran along the quiet path surrounding the dormitory. Each breath escaped in faint white clouds that vanished into the cold predawn air.
It's been more than a week since she started running, adding a little more distance every few days, of course this bath around the dormitory is not big enough, so she has to maneuver a couple of times to finish it .
After finishing her exercise, Joan rushed upstairs with her sweat nearly freezing on her back. Having a warm shower early in the morning is really pleasant. Unfortunately, she can't have it everyday. Just as she nearly finished her bath, the bathroom became nearly crowded with a short line outside.
"I really don't know where your energy comes from. Work is hard as it is, how come you have extra energy for running early in the morning?" Lily complained as she munched on her egg sandwich.
"Well, it is good you're consistent with it, I feel great seeing you from the second floor running in the field, it gives me energy as soon as I wake up" said Elise as she took a sip of her tea.
Since their meeting last time, Elise felt comfortable being around Joan, and after a few more coincidences, Elise joined their table with her friend, Lucie.
Another French woman, Elise met during her training.
"It's partly for my health. We spend all day on our feet, and nurses are constantly exposed to illness. A strong body is one of the few protections we have. Besides, a little exercise helps me stay awake through the rest of the day."
"Maybe, I should start doing some exercises as well," Lucie said on the side.
"Even if I want to, definitely not in the morning, My entire mood is ruined if I have to wake up even ten minutes earlier than usual." Jinen Said as she finished her last bit of tea.
"I want to do it too, but I'm afraid of cold" Helen
"fifteen squats or a few trips up and down the stairs before breakfast will suffice, believe me you will notice the difference after a week or two"
"That's sounds fine, we just need to make sure not to wake others with our steps" Elise
"Augh….gaag…."
Morning shift began with Edith holding Laura's shoulders with one hand and a basin in another.
As expected, Laura's condition continued to worsen after several days in the ward. The swelling in her face and feet had become far more noticeable than before, while nausea and vomiting visited her more frequently, especially in the mornings. Persistent headaches, blurred vision, and shortness of breath left her exhausted. Even sitting upright for long periods seemed to drain what little strength she had left.
After Laura finished her episode, she was laid down again, with her feet raised slightly on a couple of pillows.
Early in the morning, Laura became more irritated with headache and blurry eyes and a heavy breath causing more nuisance. All she needs is one good reason, and she will snap out of her rationality. Joan and the rest of the nurses knew this perfectly as it wasn't her first time causing trouble in the past few days, and all of them were understanding as not everyone can stay collected in her situation,and nevertheless she can't do more than a few breathy yelling before she gets tired, and then apologize.
Joan approached with a cup of water, which she handed to Edith before returning to the other patients.
Though she wanted to help more, she knew there was little she could realistically do. Laura's illness was severe even by modern standards, let alone in an era with such limited treatment options. Joan was not a physician, nor did she possess some miraculous ability capable of curing disease.
During her years in healthcare, she had seen patients survive against expectations and others slip away despite everyone's efforts. No matter the century, medicine had its limits.
Besides, Dr. William had placed Laura firmly under Edith's supervision. As a trainee nurse, Joan's role was to assist where she could, not interfere with decisions beyond her authority.
Still, understanding her limitations did little to ease the helplessness she felt whenever she looked at Laura's bedside.
At first, she dismissed it as coincidence—just a fluctuation in symptoms, or perhaps a change in Laura's mood. But after a few similar moments, she began to notice something she could not easily ignore.
Whenever Edith became busy with another patient and Joan remained nearby, Laura's headache and discomfort seemed to ease slightly.
She did not trust the pattern yet. It could easily be a coincidence. It could be relief from attention, or simply the unpredictable nature of her condition.
For now, Joan pushed the thought aside.