Traumatized Love

Episode 1

I sat down on the floor in a makeshift tent. I was tired and exhausted. Working in the filed wasn’t what I expected it to be. I thought back to the months when I worked in the main hospital in the capital of Lyra. The environment is definitely different from where I worked in the UK but it felt good and satisfying serving in my own home. Everyone here appreciates the little things that I do. But somehow, I felt I didn’t belong here. I felt that I belong out there in the field, in the villages where people are suffering. It was a coincidence that I came here during the time when the country is in turmoil. It was at the peak of a heated debate between the ruling monarch and the Military Order, each wanting to claim sovereign rule over the country. While there were attacks from both sides, the people suffered the most. The MO would threaten, kill and r**e people from various villages hoping that the rulers would cede power and authority to them totally. The monarchy didn’t have the manpower to defend the people. All they can do is get help and aid from other countries. So here I am, volunteering myself in the worst affected district of Maradon at the outskirts of the capital. The hospital that I’m helping out at is just a huge tent divided by plastic sheets into makeshift rooms with beds in them. Most of the patients who come in are mainly trauma patients with gunshot wounds, burns and multiple injuries from assaults. This is equivalent to working in the emergency department in the hospital. One problem we face is the lack of staff and because of this, I chose to come here.

I was taking a rest when someone came to call me, “Dr. Rae-Na, you’re needed at the trauma unit.”

Heaving a sigh, I stood up to finish my bottle of water before going out. Adrenaline was what kept me going these days. I’ve been here for only three months and these three months were the worst times this country has ever faced. I was the head of the hospital as I was the one with the most experience. Everyone else look to me to lead and guide them. I tried my best to keep everything afloat hoping this turmoil would pass.

“Alright, I’m coming,” I said.

The next morning, I was back at the emergency room treating patients. I barely had four hours of sleep every night. If it was a good night, maybe I’d get five or six hours of sleep but on worst nights, sometimes I don’t sleep at all. And with the constant worry of harassment from the MO in addition to injured patients, staff from the hospital can’t even work in peace. We have protection from the US army but they can’t do much except to maintain peace. They are not allowed to attack for fear of starting a war. At least, we do get some form of protection. I was in the midst of cleaning a patient’s wound when a nurse came in.

“Doctor, and officer is here to talk to you.”

“Oh, erm give me five minutes. Tell him I’ll come find him when I’m done,” I said.

“Alright, he’s in your office.”

I quickly finish up dressing the wound and washed up. I went to my office to see a tall man dressed in an army uniform looking out the window.

“Can I help you, sir?” I asked.

He turned around to look at me. Up close, he looks like an American soldier, tall, lanky, well-built and rather good looking with dark blond hair and kind eyes. Somehow, my instincts tell me that I can trust him.

“Hello Dr. Rae-Na, I’m Captain Steven Dowell in charge of the unit stationed here.”

“Please just call me Beth,” I told him.

“Alright, Dr. Beth.”

“Just Beth please, Captain.”

“Okay, Beth. I’m here to report the situation out there. I received news that the Military Order is getting out of control. I’m afraid we won’t be able to offer sufficient protection to everyone here. And we’re not allowed to shoot or attack anyone,” Steven explained.

“So what are you trying to say?” I asked him.

“I’m suggesting that all of you evacuate here and head somewhere safer before things get worst.”

“Evacuate and go where? How about the patients here? And the villagers who are staying here, what about them?” I asked.

“The plan is to send everyone to the nearest town. We will try to evacuate as many as we can. But with the limited manpower that we have, it’s going to take a long time and we don’t have enough time. The MO is heading here and we won’t be able to hold them back,” Steven explained.

“Alright, how much time do we have?”

“Three days at the most before they reach here.”

I sighed putting my head in my hands. I was already exhausted as it is and this just adds on to my list of worries.

“Alright, can you give me some time to think this through and figure out what to do?” I said.

“Of course, but don’t take too long. I’ll be in my tent if you need me,” he answered putting his hand on my shoulder to reassure me.

“I’m sorry to have to tell you this but times are dire right now,” Steven continued.

“Alright, I understand. Thank you for letting me know.”

He left and I was alone again, left with my jumbled thoughts and worry. I knew the situation would get worse but I wasn’t prepared to face it this soon. I was the head of the hospital and everyone would be looking to me to lead them. I have to figure out how to go about it, how to tell everyone what to do, how to organise and plan everything out within three days.

I made my way back to the emergency room. Today seem to be rather peaceful. There was no emergency cases at the moment. I took this time to call everyone together.

“I’ve received news from the US army that the MO is reaching here and the army won’t be able to offer protection anymore,” I announced.

Everyone started whispering which got louder as they started discussing the situation.

“What are we going to do?” someone shouted.

“Everybody, please stay calm,” I started to say. “The US army plan to evacuate everyone and we have to do it quick.”

“How long do we have?”

“Three days,” I answered.