Sin

Emberline had started her training as a nurse soon after, her duty entirely consuming her time and attention. Her first week was spent in the general ward with patients who had fallen ill with a cough or had started to show signs of recovery. She hadn't realized how much work was to be done caring for one or two patients who showed little to no remorse while wetting the beds.

A few days had passed since she first arrived. Her friend Lenny, well-acquainted with everyone, had made sure Ember felt slightly more at ease amongst the others. Although she still maintained her distance from most, she had managed to befriend Margaret, a short, tubby woman who spoke as though she was always half asleep. She would talk without halt, filling the silence for Ember.

Ember had never been a shy and quiet person, but she hadn't managed to engage herself in the activities among the other girls. She missed home, and more than anything she had wanted to be sitting in the drawing room, holding up her mirror and making her hair while Jenny did her quiet hobbies and Anna Lynn and Morrie shouted in the background, which was almost a daily occurrence.

Not enough chores could help her forget her desire to leave at the very next instance. But she was more than willing to undertake more tasks, a quality that many others found greatly useful.

Lenny had tasked her to draw blood from her patient early morning, while Margaret asked her favor in changing the sheets of discharged patients, in the midst of which she disappeared, leaving her changing them all by herself.

Even the cook, who served breakfast to the patients, asked her to cook a few eggs on her behalf while she 'took care of some business'.

Emberline sometimes questioned herself for her gullible behavior, but she realized she had no reason to be alert and picky when her job wasn't her real expertise.

She received two letters from Jenny over the past three weeks. Another had just arrived and she couldn't help but read through it thoroughly.

"What did she write?" Mrs. Marshall asked.

Mrs. Marshall was the new patient that had been assigned to Ember in her final days in the General ward. She was a scrawny old woman who had come in due to a severe cold that she had mistaken for another illness. Soon she realized she had lived just down the street from Emberline, and ever since she had been greatly demanding, asking Emberline about each of her family and had a keen interest in her matters.

"She says she is happy," Emberline replied plainly.

"Oh, read me her letter, Poor girl must have been hiding a great deal of sorrow, I know when a person is hiding their pain and that piece of paper holds no truth, I tell you!" she sounded more distressed than Emberline.

"I am sure she's fine," Ember replied. Although she had hoped they wouldn't be fine without her.

In the corner of the room, a boy rested, whispering into the ears of Elena as she giggled, her eyes lit up as he spoke. He was a young man; it didn't seem like he had needed to be in the hospital. He had his back turned away from Emberline, just a soft glow illuminated his dark hair, turning his gentle locks into a shade of golden. He was engaged in a conversation with Elena, and she simply chuckled or whispered back in a rather seductive manner. Emberline, though interested, wasn't one to pry, especially when she was this sleepy.

"This generation, tsk tsk! lord rid us of sin!" Mrs. Marshall sneered, her nose squinched in disgust. Emberline simply stared at the two, Elena was being far too touchy with his arms, as though unaware of anyone else's presence.

"Read it to me," Mrs. Marshall repeated with a look of concern.

Sitting by her side, Ember held the piece of paper up, slightly disappointed at the volume of the letter; she had hoped Jenny had more to deliver. Emberline looked at the paper again and marveled at the beauty of Jenny's cursive. She had a steady hand, and it had been a work of art to simply decorate the page with words.

'Dearest Em,

I received your letter a little past a week ago, though I feel sorry I took so long to reply, I'd be lying if I said I was greatly busy. Mr. March came about, and he dropped the rose seeds I had asked him for. My garden is blooming at this time of year, and my grape plants are slightly heavy with plumes of vines, each with a small cluster of grapes. Anne has taken to sewing now that she has bored herself with crochet,'

Emberline felt her heart fill with warmth; Anne had always been able to achieve all that others could, and she often found herself taking up new hobbies in search of something more challenging. Total contradiction to Ember, who found herself immersed in her thoughts much too often to dedicate herself to hobbies. Emberline lowered her voice as she read the latter part of the letter to conceal some matters of privacy from Mrs Marshall.

'I tried to remain sober this month, I haven't touched any alcohol except to have a drink with father. Maybe you were right about it, maybe it was just that i didn't want to leave the habit. Nonetheless, i am far and i sleep well now at home with dad.'

'I miss you a lot these days, I have tried to keep the house orderly, but it seems I couldn't do much without your help. I hope you have reached to Jeremiah; my heart says you will come back to me with answers one day. It's agony not knowing what happens to him. All the more, Anne says she wants you to bring golden lace and also that she hopes you learn manners from the foreigners. I tried to have Mortmain write, but he hasn't been the same; he remains silent mostly. Times like these I need your help. I suppose I have taken much of your time now; I'll write once Mrs. John's daughter marries, perhaps then the town will experience something new.

Sincerely, Sterne, Jeanette.'

Emberlines heart swelled in adoration. All she could think about then was Mortmain, sweet little Morrie, his smile must have dried away along with his tears. Morrie with his weary jokes and his silly stories.

"I told you," Mrs. Marshall said, "What a dry letter." Mrs. Marshall conveyed with a hint of frustration in her voice, her words emerging with effort due to her raspy throat. "Here you are, away from home, dear girl," she sighed "and she wouldn't even show you a little affection; I'd take you in, dear girl, but--"

Emberline mused at her comments and cut her off immediately. "Mrs. Marshall, would you like something for your throat?"

"Ah, your voice is music to my ears," the elderly woman responded, her smile revealing a sheepish charm.

"Do make me tea; I feel slightly sleepy. A cup of warm tea would help my throat to simmer down, and don't you dare let that crone put you to work like a maid once more," Mrs. Marshall instructed firmly, her voice strained yet commanding. She strained her tone.

Ember maintained her smile and made her way to the other end of the hospital corridor, navigating it almost effortlessly as she headed towards the kitchen, her steps carrying a sense of familiarity. Standing outside the kitchen, she sought

out Helen, the cook.

"Ah, my dear! What a relief to find you here! You radiate beauty on this lovely evening!" Helen greeted Ember with enthusiasm.

"Oh dear! I was so stressed I had to fetch some trays I left in the ward; I was hoping to get them. Could you wait by the tea while I collect them?" She huffed while she excused herself.

"Helen! But Mrs. Marshall wants some tea," Emberline placed her order but the cook rushed out.

"Add some water into the tea and some spices, my dear, and do serve the tea to the man in Mr. Murphy's office!" she said as she hurried herself into the corridor.

She faced disappointment again; Mrs. Marshall had warned her, but she wasn't prepared again. She felt a pang of disrespect as a nurse, standing hesitantly by the door. Eventually, she decided to take charge and began preparing the tea. Pouring water into the pot, she mixed it slightly aggressively with a wooden ladle by her side. Adding tea leaves in measured amounts, their essence diffused rapidly into the water. Then in even precise measure, she took a spoonful of sugar and poured it into the pot, mixing it in the water and watching it disappear in a matter of moments.

The tea simmered, its aroma wafting through the kitchen, leaving fragrant tendrils in the air. Ember carefully poured the tea into two cups, one intended for Mrs. Marshall and the other for Mr. Murphy's patient. However, she realized she had let it simmer too long, and the tea left only amounted to a cup and a half.

Setting aside her worry, she evenly distributed the tea, hoping the recipients would overlook any imperfections. Placing the tray on Mrs. Marshall's bedside table, she observed a small spillage from the cups.

"Ah, she did it again that sly hag; I told you to beware of her, tsk tsk!" Mrs. Marshall commented, her voice tinged with irritation.

"I brought you tea Mrs Marshall, perhaps it will help your throat,"

"Oh dear, don't worry; my tongue can't differ ginger from cherries with this damned cold!" she cursed her condition.

She took the tea Emberline handed her and sipped one after another like it had been a glass of sweet wine.

"That woman is quite sly; let me tell you," she continued her critique of the cook, determined not to let silence linger.

The whispers grew, and the couple before them seemed to be getting too comfortable. Emberline stifled a gasp as she saw the two holding hands; Lenny looked lovestruck as she handled the boy. Emberline almost broke her neck watching the two; it was a sight to see indeed. This wasn't quite the decent man she spoke of.

"These children have no shame!" Mrs. Marshall cried loud enough for the two to hear, but they seemed to be unbothered.

"Hm," Emberline agreed, watching Mrs. Marshall enjoy the tea with surprising ease.

"Such women employ innocence to their advantage. May the Lord save us from their manipulation! These women and their equally compliant men wouldn't be tolerated in our country..." Mrs. Marshall continued with her tales, and Emberline listened, her thoughts drifting between memories of home and Mrs. Marshall's stories. She gazed at the swirling steam from the warm tea, allowing its aroma to spread into every corner of the room

She was planning on sleeping, but the whispers were audible and clear.

"I'd like for you to be there tonight but I'm afraid there is someone else sharing my apartment," Elena said in a whisper. "I'm counting days till the rat is gone" She said to him. A crashing hurt settled in Emberline's heart.

She had tried to find another job, another place to find solace but she had no luck as of yet.

"Rats are good for trash," he spoke, as though he was disinterested.

Elena giggled. "I would know, she had the place squeaky clean." Elena paused. That was the only time Emberline heard her shrill her voice and breath midway. "It's the least she can do after I helped her fake her documents."

Emberline felt her heart drop.

"Really?" The man asked, he evidently not listening.

"But don't tell Eva!"

He hummed in response, while Emberline was left looking behind them, heartbroken and betrayed.