Three months had passed since the birth of Ulrich. The days spent with him brought a small amount of joy to Eloise. Much of her life was spent seeing the bitterness that reality had to offer, but with the small child cradled in her arms she felt only happiness. She placed a gentle kiss on his cheek as she stroked the fine hairs that covered his head. His hair reminded her of the sun, and brought equal amounts of warmth into her cold heart. As Ulrich looked at her, she could see Albert in them. It was undeniable that Albert was the father of Ulrich.

The changing of seasons was becoming hard. The weather brought rain, yet in the orphanage it seemed as if it was always raining. For a moment in time the war around them had stood still, but within the passing months it had returned with a great rage. A choir of guns sang the song of death in the distance.

With the war raging all around the French orphanage, the passing of people had become scarce. Allied soldiers had passed by regularly, telling of the bloody details of the western front. Their arrival caused a great concern among the children who watched. Eloise knew firsthand what horrors war could create. She pitied the youthful soldiers who passed. Her heart ached as she watched them leave, knowing that many would never live to see another day.

In the dimly lit room she sat, her son cradled tightly in her arms. Vague amounts of light could penetrate through the small window of room. A strong gust of air howled from outside, sending a draft through the area. Eloise pulled a thin sheet up around herself and her son, driving away the cool force. She softly began to hum a familiar tune to the resting babe. Her gentle touch caressed the soft cheek of the infant. An instant smile came onto her face recalling Albert in her mind. Her heart ached with a desire to be held once again by Albert. All the wits within her knew that it was an unachievable dream, yet she kept on imagining. Thoughts of him kept her going.

The peaceful moment was stolen by the beating on her door. An unnerving feeling came over her as she hesitantly rose. She continued to hum against the cheek of Ulrich, hoping to keep the child calm. She stood beside the door, reluctant to open it. A loud pound came once again.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath before slowly opening it. To her dismay, General Ramsay and Adeline stood before her. Both were dressed as if they were about to enter an operating room. Their faces held news she knew she did not wish to hear. She felt her heart sink at the sight of them.

"It has been a long time since I have saw either of you." Eloise whispered into the stillness. She nervously placed a kiss on Ulrich's head. The blank stares on their faces spoke louder than any words that could be spoken. Although silence was the only response that came, the nerves in Eloise's stomach began to turn violently. "What have you come for?"

Adeline dropped her head and let out a sigh. Thomas patted her on the back and spoke, "We have come for you."

Eloise's eyes grew wide. The words were like a knife in her heart. She tightened her grasp on her child and turned away, "Am I still a prisoner to you, General?"

Thomas was taken aback by the question, "Pardon?"

"When I became a nurse for the British, I had no choice in the matter. I was your German prisoner." Eloise paused with a shrug, "I would like to know if I am still considered your prisoner, sir."

"Eloise," Thomas spoke softly. She could sense the hurt in his voice. "You stopped being a prisoner in our eyes so long ago. You are only seen as a wonderful nurse," he rested his hand on her shoulder, "and a wonderful woman."

Eloise forced a smile onto her gloomy face, "Then I am free to decide whether I stay or if I go, correct?"

Thomas sighed and nodded.

"Then I choose not to return with you." Eloise replied squarely. "There are plenty of women who would like to be a nurse. Find one of them to take my place."

"We have tried to find women, but it is nearly impossible," Thomas plainly stated. "They are eager in the beginning then they quickly crumble. They simply can't handle the pressure of the job. It is not the war they imagined from their homes. The hospital needs women like you working the frontlines."

Eloise grew silent at the thought. Her eyes scanned around, hoping to find words to say. She fixated her stare on Ulrich, who slept soundly in her arms. Seeing his face flooded her with emotions. She had never felt a love as strong as that of becoming a mother.

"I am a mother now. I have to look out for my son because I am all he has," she paused, glancing up at Thomas, "and he is all I have. If I return to the hospital, I will be stealing the only source of love and peace from him." A slight shake came from her, "I simply can't be a thief to my child, not now. For once in my life I want peace that remains steady."

"That is why we need you. You can connect with the mothers who are losing their sons every day on the battlefield. You can create a sense of peace to hurting people all around." Thomas spoke passionately, gently taking her by the shoulders. She quickly looked away, "Imagine if it were your son fighting in No Man's Land. What would you wish for?"

Her eyes trailed up the face of Thomas, who stared at her intensely. "I would wish for him to live."

"If you return to the hospital with us, are will help the sons of many mothers live."

Eloise closed her eyes for a moment and drew a deep breath. "Will you ensure that my son shall be looked after while I work?"

"I will see that he is generously cared for."

"If anything were to happen to him," Eloise placed another kiss on his head, "I don't think I could live with myself."

"I will make sure that nothing will happen to your son."

Silence infiltrated the space between them, creating an uncomfortable tension. She carefully watched as Thomas nervously ran his hand along his neck.

"Is there something else, sir?" Eloise questioned.

He nodded, "The field hospital expects you to arrive today."

Eloise felt her eyes grow wide at the news, "That is quite sudden."

"I have discussed this with the nuns. They are saddened by your departure but understand that your duty calls." Eloise responded with a single nod. She did not wish to speak anymore. "Gather your things, Eloise, we should be leaving."

"Everything I own is in the trunk beside the bed." She whispered in the stillness.

Her eyes drifted shut allowing the images of the field hospital to paint in her mind. The bloodstained thoughts discouraged her heart in returning, yet she knew what her duty curtailed. The thoughts of the men she had helped survive came to her. The memory of them helped to ease her troubled feelings.

In a moment, Thomas was at her side with the battered trunk. She looked down at Ulrich, who remained sleeping in her arms, and smiled.

"Are you ready, Eloise?" He questioned.

A single nod was her response. As they went to leave, she felt a steady hand rest on her back. For a moment it reassured her, yet something inside of her was still terrified. Her eyes roamed over the darkened room one last time. A fond smile came to her lips. A surprisingly sad feeling came over her, knowing that she would never return to a hospital again.

They slowly moved throughout the large house until they reached the outside. The sunlight pricked the sensitive eyes of Eloise. She could see the motorcar in the drive of the orphanage. The group of children surrounded it with blank stares on their faces. She had grown fond of them during her stay, and she could feel the love radiate from them toward her. A nun sternly called the children back to the house, which they adhered instantly.

She stood at the bottom of the stairs looking up at the faces of those she had grown to enjoy. Although the days had been long and often lonely, the saddened expressions of the children reassured her that her time spent at the orphanage had not been a waste. Tears pricked the eyes of the nuns she enjoyed the most. Words could not express her gratitude for their hospitality during her hardships and she knew she could never repay their kindness. She offered them a single wave before going to the motorcar.

The rumble of the engine sang a melancholy song to her as she took one last look at the orphanage. She knew where she was going there would be no warmth, only the cold bitterness that came with war. From the window she watched her newly acquainted home vanish from her sight. There was no turning back and knowing that caused something inside her to ache. She oddly familiar feeling of homelessness began to return to her. She had forgotten how much she hated the feeling, and in that moment with her son in her arms she despised it.

Except for the rumble of the engine, the ride was silent. Adeline watched the scenery pass from the window. Eloise wondered what was going through her mind. She glanced over at Thomas who's stare remained fixated on the road ahead. Without uttering a word, Eloise could hear the stories of Adeline and Thomas through their eyes.

She cradled Ulrich in her arms, cooing at the infant. His smile brought warmth to a cold car. The laughter from the child made the others smile for a moment. Eloise saw the light beam from Thomas when he glanced at them.

"He is a handsome lad." He said kindly, returning his stare forward.

"Thank you." She whispered.

The world outside was ransacked from the war. Nothing prevailed from the wreckage. In her mind she thought where could they be taking her. Her eyes roamed to the gray clouded sky, which seemed to fit the surroundings.

"Where is this hospital?"

"The fighting is taking place in Broodseinde." His voice dropped and filled with concern, "The hospital is several miles away from the battlegrounds. Before the war the building was a schoolhouse," spoke Thomas. "They repurposed it into a hospital once the war arrived."

Eloise listened to him speak, yet the words were distant. She watched the scenery changing from the window. A large red brick building loomed in the distance. At first glance, its appearance was cold and uninviting. Masses of uniformed people roamed freely around the area. All the faces of people were solemn and emotionless. The feeling of death engulfed the world around and Eloise could sense it greatly. A large sheet painted with a red cross was the only welcome they received as they neared the structure. Her heart began to beat violently in her chest as her reality came into focus.

The rumbling of the motor ceased leaving only the sounds of the hospital to be heard. Eloise let out a nervous breath as she opened the door. Instantly, the smell of death pricked her senses. In her time away, she had not forgotten the familiar scent.

She cradled Ulrich protectively in her arms as Thomas followed behind them closely. Her eyes began to wander around the location. Injured soldiers lined the outside of the building. Each man bore their own unique wounds and waited patiently for their turn to be relieved. In their eyes she saw the look of fear. She offered them a kind smile, hoping that it would momentarily ease their nerves.

When Thomas opened the door, Eloise stepped back. The blood flowed freely in the operating room. The white aprons that draped the surgeons were painted red, as were the linens that were strewn throughout the operating space. A surgeon waved toward Thomas, who quickly departed from Eloise's side. She tucked her child's face into her bosom, hoping to shield his gentle eyes from the horrors.

"You shouldn't worry of shielding him so much, Eloise," Adeline finally spoke, motioning at Ulrich. "He is too young to remember anything."

Eloise shook her head, "No child, no matter what the age, should have to witness this world of war."

Adeline picked up the trunk of Eloise's possessions. "Let me take you to where the nurses stay. That is where you will leave your son to work."

She held tighter to her child and closed her eyes. They passed through the crowded room. Agonizing moans filled the crowded space as they weaved through the tight areas. It was a sound that Eloise had hoped to forget, yet on occasion the cries of soldiers would play in her dreams. Her mind had slowly become a nightmare that she could not wake from.

As they travelled up a set of winding stairs, Eloise could hear the voices of women conversing. Large groups of women were seated through the hall, all talking amongst themselves. Their speech halted as they appeared before them. The women waved at Adeline, who greeted them with a smile.

"This is Eloise and her son Ulrich." Adeline introduced them. "She is our new nurse for the hospital."

The group of women looked around. An uneasy feeling filled Eloise's heart as they ogled at her appearance. She wondered what circulated through their minds as she stood before them.

"Is she any good?" one of the women questioned.

Adeline was quick to respond, "She is the best."

The woman nodded and slowly neared Eloise, "Welcome to our group, Eloise."

Eloise graciously nodded with a smile, "Thank you."

The woman leaned forward and began to inspect Ulrich. "You needn't to worry about your son." Her dark eyes met with Eloise, "We will see that he is taken care of while you work."

"A little laddie will be nice to have around. It will help to ease our minds from what is going on." Another woman announced. The women started their conversations again.

Eloise let out a sigh of relief. Her eyes focused on Ulrich who was laughing with the woman.

"Do you mind if I hold him?" she asked kindly.

Eloise shook her head. With a gentle hand she reached her son to the woman. In an instant she saw peace in the woman's eyes. She began to playfully bounce the baby on her hip. She slowly moved toward the other women, who done the same. The mood of the room changed entirely with the arrival of her son.

"I told you your son would be looked after," Adeline whispered.

Eloise carefully watched the scene playing before her eyes. Although she was pleased with what she witnessed, something within her ached at the sight. Ulrich was the only thing she had to love. She feared more than anything of losing him. With him not safely tucked in her arms, her fears increased.

"I know..." Eloise's voice trailed off.

A silence grew between the women. Eloise continued watching her son.

"Eloise!" She heard her name be called from the stairwell.

She recognized it as the deep voice of Thomas. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Her time had come leave.

"Eloise, we need you!" He called again, only now he had appeared.

Draped in a white uniform, Thomas motioned for her to follow. In his hands he held her garments. She stared at him blankly, her heart beating faster with every passing second. She felt the reassuring hand of Adeline rest firmly on her shoulder.

"You will be fine, Eloise. I know you will."

Eloise forced a smile onto her face, "But what about my son?"

"I will stay with your son and see that he is taken care of."

Eloise nodded, looking back at Thomas. She could tell that he was growing impatient with the wait. Reluctantly she approached him, taking the clothing from his hands. She gently slipped the white linen apron over her black dress, given to her by the nuns. The fabric from the cap flowed down her back, hiding her features. As she passed an open room, her reflection was caught in a standing mirror. Abruptly she halted. She stared at it intensely for several seconds. Her hands trailed down the apron, then up to her linen cap. A single finger traced over the red cross that was painted on the fabric.

"Eloise..." Thomas whispered to her, waving her toward him.

"I can't do this, sir."

His voice grew softer, "You must."

The two continued their walk completely silent. In her mind, Eloise mentally and physically prepped for what work was to befall her. Immediate action was required upon her arrival. Her eyes roamed around the tight space at the occupants who lay on the tables. She was back in the world of nursing and it terrified her. Thomas stood opposite of her. His eyes looked at her with admiration and promise. With a trembling lip, she offered him a shaky smile before nodding. In a matter of seconds, a man was placed on their operating table.

She watched as Thomas began his quick assessment. The garment of the soldier was disposed of. A large bullet hole painted his pale skin. Thomas worked diligently at extracting the remaining bullet, while Eloise aided in staunching the blood flow. The man beneath them shook in fear. Eloise estimated that he was in his thirties.

"Am I going to die?" a thick Australian accent questioned.

Eloise knew the question and shook her head, "Not today sir."

The tenseness in his body eased up as he closed his eyes. The procedure had ended quicker than expected. Eloise dressed his wounds and sent him on to recover. She met her eyes with Thomas once again and waited for the next patient.

A man was placed before them. His youthful eyes were that of a young teenager. Eloise saw the tears in his eyes as he cried out in pain. Her eyes trailed down his seemingly fine body and rested on his mangled legs. Remnants of skin hung freely as his bone was exposed. She hurriedly found morphine from the bag nearby. Before Thomas could protest, she dispensed the small vile into his arm in hopes to ease his pain momentarily. Thomas then began to amputate the remnants of the young man's lower limbs. The man's groans of pain slowly vanished as the morphine began to react in his body. Eloise continued her assisting and dressed the large wounds. A feeling in the pit of her stomach ached for the man, knowing that his chance of survival was very small. She only hoped that he felt nothing that was going on.

When Thomas finished with the patient, he sent him to a more critical side of the hospital. "I hope that he will live, but do not be devastated if he dies. It is not your fault."

Eloise nodded. She poured a pitcher of water into a porcelain bowl and began to wash the blood from her hands. The white bowl was soon stained red with the blood of strangers. Eloise let out a long sigh. It was the only reaction she had left. She thought of her son who was staying with strangers, while she tended the hurting sons of many mothers. She felt their connection running through her veins—mother to mother, she wanted to make all of the wounded live. It was a feat she knew was impossible, but she intended on trying.

Surrounded by the carnage of war, the rain outside began to play its somber anthem. Eloise remained fixated on her work, watching as men died around her. Agonizing cries came from men that plead for death but were cursed with life. Rows of soldiers who were burned with gas could not see what was happening around them. For a selfish moment, Eloise considered them the luckiest of all.