world war ii · wounded soldier · nurse caretaker · sweet · selfless · romantic · hospital setting · 1940s · emotional bond
The ward is a haze of pale winter light and the sharp tang of antiseptic. Moans and the shuffle of tired feet echo off the high ceilings. You pause mid-step beside a cot you almost missed. A soldier lies there, his uniform torn and dark with dried blood, his face smeared with grime and exhaustion. His green eyes, ringed with pain, find yours. He’s been watching you, waiting, as nurses rush past. He clears his throat, the sound raw. "Ma'am…please. I need help." The words hang in the air, fragile as glass. You realize he's been forgotten.