Every waking moment at the field hospital ticked by, slowly turning into hours. The hours turned into weeks. Eloise spent her days aiding the other nurses with daily activities and studying the language of her captors. She longed to return to her home country and escape the monotony of the hospital.

Eloise sat across from Adeline who remained silent. She wondered what was going through the young woman's mind as she knitted a large ball of wool into socks.

"I have been with you for quite some time now, and I know nothing about you." Eloise spoke softly, breaking the silence. "Where are you from?"

Adeline glanced up and smiled, "I, too, am from Belgium."

"Really?" Eloise was impressed by the revelation.

"Yes," she gently sighed, "My mother and I escaped from there when the Germans invaded in 1914. I have never gone back."

"Well, it is for the best. There is nothing left there but the ruins of a once prosperous and peaceful land. I know, I saw it in its end."

The silence fell over them again. Eloise began to recall the day she left her homeland. She shut her eyes and tried to repaint the image she etched into her brain. Only in her memories could she smile—for only in her memories the world was worth smiling about.

The moment of reminisce was cut short by the frantic voice of General Thomas from behind. Both women quickly rose to greet him.

"There will be a large number of wounded arriving soon!" Thomas addressed them. Their only response was a silent nod. Just as the women began to leave, Thomas spoke, "Eloise, I want you to come with me for a moment."

Eloise halted in her tracks and closed her eyes. She felt her heart sink at the mention of her name. There was nothing that she wanted to hear from him. Hesitantly, she turned to face him.

"I have seen how comfortable you are among the wounded. It is as if you were born to tend the hurt," said Thomas as he neared her. "How are you so fearless when doing your job?"

"I am always nervous when I go in. There is never a passing moment that I feel comfortable with my surroundings. I pretend as if nothing bothers me, but it does. I am tired of seeing death."

"You told me that you worked beside your medical general, is that true?"

Eloise nodded, "Yes sir."

"Then you are to work beside me, just as you did him." He directed her. "Will that be a problem for you?"

Her eyes grew wide for a moment as she thought about the task at hand. The lump that was forming in her throat slowly slid down, making it nearly impossible for her to speak. "No, sir." She spoke softly, fearing what could happen if she refuted the command.

The intensity was building among the nurses as they awaited the arrival of wounded. The minutes passed into and hour when the sound of motor cars echoed in their ears. They rushed out to witness bodies of bloodied and burned men approaching the operating section.

Groups of men carried stretchers into the cramped operating room. Eloise glanced over the injured body of a man to see the face of Thomas assessing the damage. She wished she felt the same comfort with Thomas as she had with General Beck, but that feeling was absent. The injured man let out a painful groan. Instinctually, she reached down and gently touched his cheek. The gentle motion instantly calmed the man, making him lay still for Thomas. Thomas nodded at Eloise, who returned the motion. Eloise could see tiny fragments of shrapnel scattered through the man's body. Fear fill his eyes as Thomas began his work.

"Everything will be alright, sir." Eloise whispered to the man, removing her hand to aid Thomas.

As she worked, she would look at the man. Peace slowly filled his eyes when she offered him a kind smile. In a matter of minutes, they finished with him and he was taken to be with the other patients.

Eloise glanced over her shoulder at the other tables with patients in operation. She wondered how many would live to see another day, or how many would live yet wish to be dead. She saw Adeline, who held a disturbed expression. Pity filled her heart for the kindhearted woman that she knew. Many thoughts raced throughout her mind, yet she continued on with the job.

Another man was placed before them. Eloise could see the critical injury he had and knew that his time was quickly fading. Thomas used a small vile of morphine, while Eloise held his trembling hand.

"You are a very brave and strong man. Your country must be very proud of you," Eloise encouraged.

A slight smile appeared at the corner of his bloodied mouth, which gave Eloise the comfort she needed to help the man pass. He began to tightly squeeze her hand, and tremble beneath her. Fear filled his pale green eyes as Eloise held him tighter. The fear disappeared into peace as his body became motionless. Thomas gently closed his eyes and reassuringly looked over at Eloise. She watched as two men carried off the deceased body.

"You may leave, Eloise, if you need to." Thomas spoke as they awaited another patient.

Eloise shook her head, "I will not leave until there are no more patients left."

The patients continued to come and Eloise worked on, showing no emotion to the scenes that were being etched into her mind. As she dressed the last wound of her final patient, the built-up emotions began to escape onto her face.

"There, sir, your mother will never know you were even hurt—" Eloise paused a shrugged, "unless you tell her, of course."

The man laughed—a sight she never thought she would see. "I am not sure that you have been told, but you are an exceptional woman. You are an angel sent from the heavens. You have saved my life."

Eloise shook her head, "General Ramsay saved your life, not i."

The man reached up to touch her hand, "He might have made me live physically, but you have given me hope to continue life. There are horrors out there that are unspeakable, but where there is horror there can be beauty. You have let me see that first hand."

Eloise felt the tears burning in her eyes, "Thank you sir. I wish you the best of luck wherever you may go."

He gave her another smile, "Same to you, mam"

She turned slowly and began the long walk to the outside. She could see the sun setting into evening. The object of time had disappeared at the hospital. She found a group of chairs beside the tents and sat down in silence. The warmth from the setting sun embraced her skin. She closed her eyes, but in the darkness the faces of her patients haunted her. She looked down at her bloodstained apron that she had yet to remove.

"You did very well, Miss Eloise." Thomas spoke from the side as he removed his surgical garments. "You are a very gifted woman. I admire the way you can be distraught, yet calm a dying man."

Eloise slowly turned to face him, "Thank you, sir. I tried my best."

She closed her eyes as she spun the golden band around her finger in hopes to decompress. She forced happy thoughts to appear in her mind that was filled with only the horrors that war had to offer.

Thomas drug a nearby chair to her side and sat down. "Are you married?" He asked calmly.

The words felt like a pierce in her heart. She looked at the ring on her hand, recalling the man who had placed it there. She softly shook her head. "I don't wish to speak of it now, he is gone. It no longer matters."

"Is he dead?"

Eloise thought about the question. She did not know where Albert was, or if he was alive. She did not know if he had moved on to another woman, forgetting her own existence. She wondered about his well-being, and if he ever thought of her. He was gone from her life and she knew that.

"I don't know." she remarked, "I only know that he is gone."

"Was he a German?"

Eloise thought for moment before nodding, "He was." a pause came over them, "but as I said, sir, it no longer matters."

"Very well, Miss Keller. I am also pleased to see how your English skills are coming along. I knew Adeline would be a good teacher for you."

"They are coming along quite well. I have no complaints." Eloise kept her words short, hoping that conversation between them would cease.

"Quit trying to mask it, Miss Keller. I can sense it in you."

Eloise shook her head confused, "What are you talking about, sir?"

"You hate it here. You despise Adeline, myself, and everyone else around you. I can see it in your eyes and hear it in your voice. These passing weeks have truly been a punishment to you, haven't they?"

Eloise stared at him silently for several seconds before speaking, "You are correct, sir. I don't wish to be here. I never wished to be here, but it is my punishment given to me by my British captors." She paused momentarily, thinking of her words, "It would not be a punishment if I were enjoying myself, you know that, sir, better than anyone."

Thomas shook his head in disbelief. "You never cease to amaze me, Miss Keller."

The two shared a smile and became silent. Eloise continued to watch the passing clouds. Her thoughts went to Albert and the other men who she had become friends with at the air field. Her mind wondered how many had already faced the end, but she quickly demolished those thoughts. She glanced at Thomas, a man who could hold the life of her comrades in his hands.

The rare moment of silence was shattered by the shriek of Adeline. Eloise quickly rose, followed closely by Thomas. They entered into the room and scanned the area. The faces of the wounded were onlooking the scene in the middle of the room. A critically wounded soldier roamed freely into the recovery area, seeking for the help that was unavailable.

"Eloise, I want you to go aid him until I return with my operating utensils." Thomas sternly instructed, before darting toward the exit.

Eloise rushed to her side, dropping to the ground nearby. She looked into the eyes of the young soldier. Cloaking the color of green was the darkening shade of death. He stared off into the distance, making not a sound.

"Can you hear me, sir?" Adeline asked the bleeding man.

Eloise hurriedly rolled back the man's garments, exposing a large hole in his stomach. Blood poured profusely from the wound. His small body continuously shook beneath them. Eloise, with the help of Adeline, hurriedly began to aid him with simplistic remedies. They look of sheer terror was written along both of their faces. Eloise took her by the arm and shook her head. Many a man she had seen die from the wounds which the man had.

"Tell him something to calm him." Eloise instructed Adeline, softly stroking the man's dirtied face. "He is frightened. The talk of German between us can only cause more fear in him."

Eloise offered him a smile, which was barely returned. Before they could react, the man ceased any movement. Eloise rested her had on his still chest, feeling the emptiness of his mangled shell.

"May God rest his soul." Eloise remarked, closing his eyes. She looked around the startled faces of patients, wondering what must be going through their minds.

Just as she went to rise, Thomas returned. He dropped in his hands to his side. Discouragement written along his tired face. Eloise took him by the arm and exited the room. She took a deep breath of outside air. The smell of death invaded her senses, causing her to cough.

"I am tired of death." Eloise remarked boldly. "I only want life!"

Thomas took her into an embrace, "You should go and rest, Eloise. You are tired."

"There is no rest in war," Eloise replied, pulling away. "Only when this war is over will we be able to fully rest."

♠

The following day brought rain, which matched the mood of the hospital. Blood poured freely in each location. Eloise vigorously pushed through the gore and grime, trying to bring peace to the wounded. A sick feeling spun wildly in her stomach; and while the smells of the hospital was familiar to her, they were making her ill in that moment.

"Adeline!" She called out, gaining her attention. "I need to take a moment, if you don't mind."

Adeline nodded, watching as Eloise quickly fled the area. Outside, Eloise vomited and sat down. She placed her head in her hands, fearing what caused her sickness. She tried to push aside the thoughts she was having but they crept into her mind uninvited.

"I understand why you could get sick here. The smells get to me sometimes too." Adeline reassured her, patting her on the back.

Eloise straightened herself and smoothed out her white apron. "I don't believe that it is the fact of where I am at," she paused, taking a deep breath. "rather, I believe that I am carrying a child."

Adeline's eyes grew wide as she took a step back. "You are?"

Eloise hesitantly nodded, resting her hands on her stomach. "I am fairly certain I am."

"What makes you think that?"

"It is something that woman knows." Eloise informed, feeling her cheeks begin to blush. "I wanted to believe that it was not so, but I am no fool either."

"How long have you thought this, Eloise?"

Eloise shrugged, fighting back tears, "It has been a few weeks now, but I wanted to deny it. I can't anymore."

"Oh, Eloise," Adeline's voice became apologetic as she pulled her into an embrace. "I am afraid that you will be shamed by the women around if they find out."

Eloise pulled away from the embrace and looked at her. "I don't care if I am shamed or ignored," she paused letting a smile come onto her face. "I want this child."

"And what is too be of the father?"

The words haunted Eloise greatly, filling her mind with the thought of Albert, who was in an unknown place. What would he say, she thought? She could not bear the thought of letting his name out, fearing that it would cause issues for either her or Albert.

"He is gone." She answered the words quickly, avoiding any other comments about Albert.

Adeline was silent for a moment before questioning, "how will we ever tell Captain Thomas?"

"We will not speak of it until I cannot keep it a secret any longer." Eloise instructed forcefully. "Do you understand, Adeline?"

Adeline responded with only a meek nod, making Eloise doubt her loyalty.

♠

As the days continued, Eloise could tell her condition was becoming prominent. She knew that her secret could not be kept much longer before someone would notice. A pain surged through her back as she hung the fresh linens on the line. She quickly looked around before she held her pains.

"Eloise!" She heard Thomas yell. The sound of him approaching caused Eloise's heart to pound. The tone of his voice made her aware that there was an issue and she was going to know about it. Hesitantly she appeared from behind the white sheets.

"Yes sir?" She asked straightening her appearance.

"Why did you not tell me of your condition?" He questioned straightforward.

Eloise stared at him blankly, "What are you talking about, sir?"

Thomas shook his head, "Do not play dumbfounded with me, Eloise. You know what I am speaking of. Adeline told me your secret. You know that you are carrying a child."

Eloise quickly looked at Adeline, who hung her head shamefully. "You were not supposed to speak of this!"

"It would have come to the light soon enough, Eloise." Thomas addressed straightforward.

"Adeline," Thomas calmed his voice as he addressed the distraught woman. "Will you leave Eloise and I alone? We have plenty of objects to discuss."

The tension between the two was heavy. She could tell by the look on his face that he was disappointed in her, but she did not care.

"I can explain to you, Captain!" Eloise objected.

He raised a single finger, silencing her, "Why did you not speak of this sooner?"

"Because I am afraid." She admitted fearfully. "I am afraid of what people will do to me. I am carrying the child of a German man! An enemy's child grows within me! You know what such knowledge among these people could do to me."

Thomas rested his hands firmly on her shoulders, steadying her frantic state. "Eloise, I will not let anything happen to you. I will see that you are taken well care of. The last thing that I want is for you to be is harmed. You are a good woman and I am sure you were always a good woman, not an enemy."

"You can't protect me, sir. I am a sheep among wolves, waiting to devour me."

"There is a Catholic orphanage on the outskirts of the village. I will see that you are welcomed there as your new home until the child arrives. You will be the Belgian woman you are, your child will be English, and your husband is dead. Tell no one any details of your life." He paused, taking her frightened face into his glove-covered hand. "I will come to check on you whenever I can and make sure you are doing splendid."

Eloise silently nodded. Words wanted to escape from her mouth, but her lips remained sealed. A new life was yet again unfolding before her eyes and there was nothing she could do. The nervousness she felt spiraled in the bottom of her stomach, while her thoughts turned wildly on what was to come. The smile that Thomas held gave her hope that the circumstances she faced would end well, yet she could not believe his promise until she was a witness to it.