I'LL BE WAITING

Dr. Frank, having been startled awake, blinked in surprise at the sight of Ashley and Josh in the infirmary. The base, with Myra's healing abilities, rarely saw patients seeking traditional medical attention. The doctor, once surrounded by a team of health professionals, found his role diminished in the presence of Myra's extraordinary healing powers.

"Ah, what happened?" Dr. Frank asked, noticing the blood on Josh's forehead. He motioned for him to sit down on one of the infirmary beds.

"It's just a small cut during training," Josh replied, seemingly unfazed by the injury.

Ashley, eager to engage with the doctor, leaned in, "Do you remember me, Dr. Frank? Ashley Queen? You treated me after the evolution."

Dr. Frank squinted, trying to recall the name. "Red hair and green eyes, are you vegan?" he asked, his memory slowly piecing together.

Ashley nodded, "Yes, that's me."

Dr. Frank chuckled, "Ah, the lunch ladies were never thrilled with you wasting meat."

Ashley's smile faded, and the memory of the conflict with the cafeteria staff resurfaced. Josh couldn't help but snicker, earning a sharp glare from Ashley.

"Nice to see you again, Ashley," Dr. Frank said, diverting the conversation back to the present as he finished treating Josh's wound. "You can rest here until training is over," he added before retreating into his office.

As Ashley settled into a chair, she couldn't shake the unease caused by the earlier confrontation with Dylan. Josh, observing her, decided to break the tension with a lighthearted comment, "Well, at least the lunch ladies have one less vegan to worry about now."

Ashley shot him a playful glare, appreciating the attempt to lighten the mood. 

Ashley gently pushed Josh back onto the bed, she insisted, "Lie down." Josh complied, and she couldn't help but apologize, "Sorry about the hit." Her tone carried a sincere regret.

Josh, still smiling from the earlier fight, reassured her, "Don't worry about it."

In a moment of quiet vulnerability, Ashley called his name softly. Josh responded with a calm hum. However, Ashley had something more significant on her mind. "Have you thought about getting back together?" she asked, her voice a delicate whisper.

This question furrowed Josh's brow. "Ashley," he started in a slightly frustrated tone, but Ashley was quick to interject.

"I know what you're going to say, but I'm better."

"Ash," Josh began, trying to reason, but Ashley was determined.

"You know it too. I've gotten better."

Josh hesitated, knowing that the recent events might have clouded Ashley's judgment. He had witnessed her reaction to Myra's decision to stay with Dylan, and it raised concerns.

"Now is not the right time for this," Josh said, implying that the situation wasn't conducive to such discussions. However, he truly wanted to express the doubt he harbored about Ashley's true feelings.

Instead of acknowledging his concerns, Ashley hastily retorted, "Just say you don't like me anymore and stop making excuses."

Josh frowned, and their eyes locked. Tear-streaked cheeks betrayed Ashley's emotions. She continued, "You're sick of me and—"

Before Ashley could finish her sentence, Josh surprised her by pulling her into a sudden and passionate kiss. He pinned her gently to the bed, their hearts racing as the intensity of the moment unfolded. When they finally separated, both were left panting heavily.

"I'll be waiting for you forever, Ash. I'm not going to leave you. I love you," Josh declared, his words sincere and full of conviction.

At that moment, Ashley felt a soothing reassurance wash over her. The turmoil in her heart eased

---.

Myra, exhausted from her dedicated efforts in treating numerous individuals, dozed off, her head gently leaning on the general's shoulder. Despite the weight of responsibility on his shoulders, the general didn't push her away. He couldn't deny a sense of shame, acknowledging the unintentional exploitation of Myra's abilities. She wasn't even aware of it, and he grappled with the conflict between his duty and the compassion he felt for her.

His gestures of kindness, like providing her with better food, were small attempts to alleviate the toll of her demanding tasks. Yet, even these gestures brought their own set of troubles for Myra. As she stirred awake, realizing her position on the general's shoulder, she quickly apologized, "Sorry."

The general, attempting to shift the focus away from her embarrassment, inquired about the ongoing joint training, "How's the joint training going?"

"Oh, that? It's been entertaining," Myra replied, her fatigue momentarily overshadowed by the enthusiasm in her voice.

Listening to Myra share her experiences, the general felt a subtle sense of relief. At least, amidst the challenges, she found some joy and fulfillment in the joint training. Though he couldn't shield her from all the hardships, knowing that she wasn't completely miserable brought a measure of comfort to the general's troubled conscience.

---

Arriving in her room with only a few minutes left until 3 am, Myra, worn out from the demanding day, collapsed onto her bed, clutching her head in pain. The onset of this pain coincided with the conclusion of her healing duties. Initially, she had considered informing the general, but the pain would always subside before she could bring it up. Brushing it off as a fleeting discomfort, she pushed the concern aside. However, during the ride back, the pain persisted, and now, in the solitude of her room, it tormented her once again.

The waves of pain eventually subsided, giving way to overwhelming exhaustion. Myra managed to sleep for an hour before waking up to rouse Ashley for their scheduled hot shower. Despite the fatigue, duty called, and Myra couldn't afford to linger in the embrace of sleep.

After their refreshing bath, just as Myra was about to succumb to the comfort of her bed again, Ashley halted her with a request. "I accidentally hurt Josh during training. Could you heal him?" Ashley's pleading eyes compelled Myra to reconsider her initial inclination to decline.

Recognizing the potential seriousness of the wound, Myra sighed, "Alright, show me."

Examining the small wound on Josh's head, Myra felt an involuntary twitch in her eye.

"Sorry," Josh apologized.

Myra waved it off, "Don't sweat it." With a swift motion of her hand and a brief flash of light, Myra mended Josh's wound, leaving no trace of the injury behind.