Eloise strode through the busy room, carrying large trays of operating utensils. As she passed the injured soldiers, she would offer them a kind smile in hopes to lift their diminishing spirits. The weeks under General's Beck's tutelage passed quickly, diligently working her way through his tough lessons. He claimed she had a gift, an art for working in such conditions; but she doubted his words.

The days were long and hard, and sometimes the work was not always rewarding. Every night her feet ached in ways she never realized they could; and when it was time for her to sleep, no matter how tired she was, her mind would not let her rest—there was always work to be done.

"Where do you think you are taking those?" Giselle Bosch scolded Eloise, halting her in the middle of the walkway. "You do not have the authority to use such objects."

Eloise nodded, "I am aware, Matron, I was given orders to return them General Beck."

"I will take them to him myself." Giselle scowled, snatching the tray out of her hands. She lightly nudged Eloise to the side and walked past her, swaying cockily before disappearing into another section.

Eloise let out a long sigh as she looked around at the staring patients who had just witnessed the scene of humiliation. She ran her hands down the front of her white apron before continuing on with her daily tasks.

After gaining the popularity among the soldiers and becoming the favored pupil of General Beck, Eloise soon became the enemy to the matron, Giselle Bosch. Giselle's grueling tasks tested her during the weeks of training, but Eloise managed to overcome them which made Giselle dislike her even more.

Eloise paused at the end of the full room and glanced down at her favorite patient in the last bed. Muller was scrawled on the board that hung above his feet. His brown eyes beamed at her with appreciation—a look that was not too often found in the hospital. He was just thankful to be alive after his atrocious plane crash.

"How are you feeling today, Terrell?" Eloise asked as she approached his side. She poured him a glass of water and reached it to him.

"I am well, I suppose" he replied in a hushed tone. "Do you think that you could find me something to ease my pain?"

She went to his side and pressed her hand on his forehead. "What is hurting on you, Terrell?"

He took a deep breath, "Everything, I believe. I have noticed that it hurts when I take a deep breath."

The remark automatically made Eloise concerned for his well-being, knowing that something internally could be wrong. "I will return in a few minutes." She remarked patting him on the bare arm before leaving to retrieve a shot of anesthetic.

Just as she made it to the other room, she was abruptly caught by the arm. With a fearful look, she quickly turned to face who was holding her. The last thing she expected to see was the piercing blue eyes of Albert staring back at her. She stared soundlessly at him, wondering if he was really there—or if it was the product of her imagination. She closed her eyes and shook her head, and upon opening them he was still there.

"I never thought I would see you again." Albert finally spoke, a half-smile appearing on his stiff face. A silence grew between them as they studied each other carefully.

Eloise shook her head. "Neither did I."

Albert released her and placed his hands at his side. He stood poised in full uniform—just like a captain should look. "I am looking for Lieutenant Terrell Muller."

"He is the last bed on the right." Eloise answered plainly. "I am actually retrieving his medication as we speak."

She let out a long-held sigh as she disappeared behind the cover of another room. Her hands found their way onto her forehead in attempt to regain her train of thought. The last thing she expected was to see Albert and it took her breath away. A certain peace came over her after she recalled his return. She was not aware of how she truly felt about him until she hadn't seen him. She wanted to deny the feelings she had, just as she had been doing for the past weeks.

She immediately regained her previous mindset once other nurses began to pass by her, staring with concern. With steadied hands she retrieved the medication she needed and began walking back to her waiting patient, pushing away the thoughts she had turning in her mind.

Eloise soon returned to the bedside, shyly glancing at Albert who sat opposite of her. She outreached her arm to Terrell and pulled him upright. "You will feel a slight pinch." She instructed kindly.

"It can't hurt me that bad." Terrell answered optimistically, pushing himself onto his side. "I did survive a plane crash."

Eloise nodded calmly as she inserted the small needle into his hip. "I know that you did, sir."

Terrell winced in pain, staring up at Albert who sat beside him. Peace filled his eyes at the sight of his trusted friend. Eloise knew that it what it meant to have Albert there by his side. She aided him in rolling back onto his back and pulled the linen sheet up around him.

"You're in good hands, titch." Albert said playfully, nudging his friend. "This is the woman who brought me back to life, I know she can do the same for you." He glanced up at Eloise, staring at her longingly. She could feel her cheeks becoming flushed under his stare. "I think she's already making you look better."

Terrell let out a slight laugh, holding his chest as he moved. "I'm sorry that I didn't get him, Albert."

Albert shook his head. "Don't worry about that, Terrell. The only thing that really matters is that you are alive."

Eloise patted Terrell on the shoulder and gathered her supplies. "If you need me for anything, all you have to do is call for me." She offered him a reassuring smile before leaving the two men to talk alone.

Eloise glanced up at the soft sound of a delicate cough. A pair of shiny black boots stood before her. As her eyes trailed up onto the well-pressed black skirt and bright white blouse, then onto the fair face of a young woman. Bright blue eyes calmly stared back at Eloise, who looked around in confusion.

"May I help you, miss?" Eloise kindly questioned, rising from where she sat.

The young woman nervously swallowed before speaking, "I am looking for a nurse named Eloise Keller. Would you know where I could find her?"

Eloise silently stared at her for several seconds. "You've already found her, miss. What can I help you with?"

"Hello, Miss Keller." She stated softly, pushing a strand of blonde hair behind her ear. "I have worked very hard on knitting scarves and socks for the soldiers." She quickly reached into the large satchel she carried on her arm, pulling out large bundles of knitted materials. "I hope that they will bring much help to the men fighting for our Fatherland."

Eloise took the soft objects into her hand, looking down at them. "Thank you..." her voice trailed off, unknowing the name of the stranger.

"Maude Bosch" she responded respectfully.

Eloise's eyes grew wide at the familiar name. "Well, Maude," She reluctantly began, forcing a smile onto her face. "Your generosity will be much appreciated. Many of the men in this facility are in need of socks." She placed the articles onto a nearby table and began sorting through the fabrics. "Would you like to help me distribute them? You should be the one that is thanked by the soldiers. You were the one who put the time in knitting them."

A wide, appeased smile pressed onto Maude's youthful face. "I would love to assist you, but my mother would not be pleased if she should see."

"Giselle?" The question came freely from Eloise, who knew firsthand the rudeness of the young woman's mother.

"You have met my mother, I see." Maude remarked, shamefully dropping her head. "She doesn't let me interact with the soldiers. She fears that they will influence me into actions I shouldn't do." Maude immediately went to the opposite side of Eloise and began placing the socks into a neat stack. Eloise paused to watch her careful, graceful movements. She was amazed by her poise and kind character, the opposite of her mother. "She doesn't know that I want to be like you."

"Why on earth would you want that?" Eloise shook her head puzzled. "You are far greater than I will ever be."

Maude shrugged, "Because you are known for helping people in the best ways. People know you and respect you for your actions." She sighed sorrowfully. "People only know me as the puppet of my mother. They all know my brother and my sister, but I am forgotten."

"That is why you will distribute your charity to the men yourself." Eloise stated plainly, reaching her hand out toward the nervous Maude.

Maude refused to move as she stared blankly at her outstretched hand. Eloise knew the fear that her mother had instilled within her, and she knew that disobeying her commands could end poorly on Maude's end.

"I have my flaws too." Eloise confessed. "That is why you don't let the people tell you that I'm perfect. I didn't want this life at all. I lived in the woods—"

"Then you found Captain von Brandt."

Eloise stared at her in question, wondering how she knew that detail of her life. "Yes, that is when I found the Captain." She tilted her head to the side and spoke, "I think we should begin passing those out."

Maude nodded and gathered several clothing pieces into her hands before halting dead in her tracks. Eloise looked around the room, confused at what made her stop. She glanced over to see Maude's face turning a bright shade of red as she watched Albert in the distance. Eloise then knew that that she was intimidated by him.

"I think you should go on and finish your task." Maude shook her head, "I will only slow you down."

"Is it because of the Captain's presence?" Eloise questioned, removing the things from her hands.

Maude nodded, "I can't go around him without panicking. My mother has worked diligently at arranging us together. She believes that his title will help me achieve one of my own. When he speaks to me, it is like my tongue is tied in hundreds of knots and no words can escape."

"He's only a man."

"I know and that is what scares me."

Eloise bit her bottom lip and raised her eyebrows. She looked at Albert who was still conversing with Terrell, then at the distressed Maude.

"He won't speak with us, for he is talking to his friend." Eloise reassured her, patting her on the arm. "And as you and I both know how it goes, men are superior; therefore, we don't address them."

Maude reluctantly nodded, stepping away from the table. Slowly she began her work, reaching objects to the pleased soldiers. The word of thanks brought a wide smile onto her face as Eloise watched her from the distance. Her eyes wondered back onto Albert whose eyes never left her as she stood still. Quickly, she averted her eyes back onto the nearby Maude. Before she could object or leave, Albert was suddenly approaching them.

"I see you have met Maude." Albert remarked, straightening the parts of his uniform that had become crooked from sitting.

Eloise smiled at Maude then at Albert. "Yes, sir, I have." She stated simply, taking the girl's arm into hers. "She is lovely company to be around. She has even knitted soldiers socks."

Maude's eyes grew wide while face became a bright shade of red. Based on her outward appearance, Eloise started to wonder if she was actually well.

"That is not a surprise to me. She occasionally will bring baked goods to the men in my squadron." Albert said, nodding chivalrously at the young girl. "Although, I'm not sure if it is only to pamper he brother, who is under my command. Say, Maude, your mother told me you had something to ask. What was it?"

Maude swallowed hard, forcing a smile onto her face. Eloise stared at her, waiting for her mouth to speak the words freely.

"I-I" Her voice stuttered, barely understandable. "I would like to know if you would accompany me to the benefit banquet."

He looked at them both hesitantly. His piercing gaze fixated on Eloise and never broke. "I can't. I have obligations with some men from my squadron. I will not be in attendance to that party." He took Maude's trembling hand into his, placing a soft kiss on the back of it. "I am so very sorry, Maude. We will have to wait for the next one."

"I understand, Captain." She forced a smile on her face and bowed to him.

Without any more words spoke, she quickly fled the building. Eloise and Albert exchanged confused glances as they began walking down the narrow pathway toward the exit.

"You have just crushed a young woman's spirits."

"She'll move on. This isn't the first time I've crushed her spirits. It is a regular occurrence when she comes to the field to see her bother. Her mother really pushes for us to become a couple, but I just cannot bring myself to be with her."

"She is a pretty girl. I believe that you would be a very handsome couple."

"As would we." He stated, glinting the familiar spark in his bright eyes.

"I have other things to be doing, sir." She blandly spoke, ignoring the cocky remark by slowly walking away from him.

"I will see you tomorrow." He informed, halting Eloise in her tracks. "I will be coming back tomorrow to check on Terrell; as you know he is a dear friend of mine."

Eloise nodded, "I will look for you, sir."

With a gentle bow, she turned on her heel and returned to her work in the busy room of wounded soldiers. She felt his eyes linger on her as she began to work with the other men; but his dashing figure soon vanished from the location, leaving only those of injured men.

The day continued to pass by, lingering slowly into the darkness. The tiredness in Eloise's aching body bade her to retire for the day, but the desire for helping burned brightly in her heart. She passed the corner of men she was responsible for nursing and found her chair. Easing down onto the hard wicker, she overlooked the sleeping faces of the men. She wondered what their dreams held. Many would not even sleep due to the fears they had of remembering something horrid. She would offer the shell-shocked soldiers a kind smile and hoped that it would let them know they were safe.

"Eloise..." she heard Terrell's deep voice whisper in the stillness.

Steadily, she rose and made her way to his beside. By the glow of a dim light, she could see his beady brown eyes peering up at her. A certain depressing dullness masked over what joy she had once seen in them. He remained silent, but he didn't have to speak for Eloise to know something bothered him. She placed the chair down beside him and eased down onto it. Without thinking, she reached him a cup of water just as she always did with her patients. As he sipped the liquid he offered her a smile.

"You've been so very nice to me, Eloise." Terrell's words were soft. "You are a true light in the darkest day. These men are blessed to have you help them." He paused, looking forward with a blank stare. "I have been blessed by you."

Eloise shrugged, leaning back against the chair. "I, too, have been blessed. You and all of these men give me a purpose." She crossed her legs calmly, recalling her previous days when she was alone.

He nodded and let out a deep sigh. "Why don't you give Albert a chance?"

"What do you mean?" Eloise shook her head in confusion.

"He has never talked about anyone as much as he has you. After you left, he wouldn't stop talking about you. Anything we would bring into our conversation, ended with you."

Eloise quickly glanced away. She could feel a warmness radiating in her cheeks, imagining how it all appeared to Terrell. "When you see him again, tell him to find better things to talk about." She popped her eyes widely, pressing her lips together.

"I don't think he would do that. He thinks you are the best thing in the world." He raised a single brow, slyly grinning at her. "Anyway, I don't think I will be the one to tell him."

"Why is that?"

His cold stare locked on the ceiling, fixating on the white color. "I won't be leaving here alive."

Eloise watched him in silence for several seconds, confused by his mannerisms. "Sir, your health is improving daily. You should be back into the air in no time."

"I don't want to die alone." He whispered, bypassing her remark.

Eloise took him by the hand, squeezing it gently in her grasp. "You won't die alone..." The concerning words rolled freely from her tongue, leaving her with an uneasy feeling. She offered him a reassuring smile before rising. "Try and rest, sir. I will be just over there if you need me."

He nodded, leaning his head over on the hard pillow. "Think about what I said," he paused glancing over at her. "Give Albert a chance. I know him better than most of the men around and I know that there is a good man underneath all of that cockiness."

Eloise let out a light chuckle as she found her way back to where she was before. Just as she went to sit back down onto the chair Terrell's eyes popped open wide as he quickly jolted upward. He gasped for air, heaving deep within in his chest. Before Eloise could stop him, he dropped his feet onto the floor and pushed himself up from the bed. With a single step he fell onto the hard floor of the hospital. Eloise hurriedly helped him lift up from the ground. With a steady pace she leaned him back onto the bed and rested her hand reassuringly on his shoulder. He closed his eyes tightly, mumbling comprehendible words under his shallow breaths. His hands clasped around the white shirt he wore, wincing in pain. She trailed her finger along his furrowed brow knowing he was in great agony.

Eloise looked around at the staring patients and nurses watching the scene unfolding before their eyes. Something in seeing the peering eyes of strangers sparking a rage inside of her.

"Have you no decency to let this man alone!" She scolded the gawking crowd.