Traumatized Love

Episode 2

The commotion got louder as everyone voiced out their worry and anxiety over how to get everyone evacuated within three days.

“Everyone, please calm down and listen to me,” I began. The noise just got louder drowning me out.

I took a deep breath and shouted, “Everybody, shut up! Please listen to what I have to say.”

Everyone was silenced and they all look at me with hope in their eyes.

“I know all of you are worried. I have no words of assurance but I can guarantee you that I will try my very best to get everyone out. So please, I need your cooperation to work as a team as we work together with the US army to evacuate as many people in the shortest time possible. Are you with me?” I asked.

There were nods and agreement in the crowd. I took is as a sign to continue.

“We will prioritise the patients first especially those who are critical. I need all those in charge of patients in the red zone and yellow zone to prepare them to be evacuated first. This will be followed by patients from the green zone and finally all the staff. Please explain carefully to the patients and their family the current situation and instruct them what to do as you assist them. I’ll inform the US army to prepare the transport for evacuation. You’re dismissed,” I said.

After the briefing, I went straight to the army camp asking for Captain Steven. He came out looking worried.

“I’ve informed the hospital staff to prepare the patients for evacuation. Is something wrong?” I asked.

“We received news that there’s a small group making their way here. They appear to come from the Military Order.”

“Should we be worried?” I queried.

“We don’t know their intention yet. So please don’t worry yourself right now. Concentrate on getting all your patients and staff ready for evacuation. We have helicopters ready for the critical patients and military trucks for those who are not critical including the staff,” Steven answered.

“Can we get everyone evacuated in time?” I mentioned.

“I can’t tell you for sure but we will try our very best. We plan to get them to the nearest town and from there take a bus to the capital. Patients taken by helicopters will be sent straight to the Lyra’s main hospital,” he explained.

“I understand. Thank you very much for doing this,” I told him expressing my gratitude.

“Don’t mention it. I’ll send some of my men to help you out.”

“Thank you.”

I rushed back to the hospital to help out. Patients were transferred from gurneys to the helicopters waiting outside. Patients who are able to walk are being escorted into military trucks to be transported. The nearest town is at most one hour’s drive away. All vehicles will have to do many trips to evacuate everyone. As we wait for the vehicles to make the round trip, we packed up what necessities we can bring. All of us worked until nightfall without stopping to take a break. Within two days, all the critical patients have been evacuated. All that’s left are the non-critical patients and the staff.

All of a sudden, we could hear gunshots nearby. It seems to be coming from a village about twenty minutes from here by foot. I immediately rushed everyone. I didn’t notice when Steven came up to me, “You have to leave now,” he urged me.

“No, I need to make sure everyone leaves first,” I told him.

“Beth, if you don’t go now, you might not get a chance to leave.”

“Are you saying we won’t be able to evacuate everyone?” I asked him sternly.

“I’m not saying that.”

“Good, I’ll make sure everyone is safe first. If I can’t leave, so be it,” I told him frankly.

I know I can be stubborn at times. But my upbringing taught me to be selfless and put others first especially those who are sick. This comes from my training as a medical doctor.

It took another hour before we got the last few patients into the trucks to leave. After that’s settled, I quickly shouted for everyone to get into any vehicle available and get out of here. As the last few remaining staff were leaving, I heard the gunshots again but louder this time. Soldiers were running towards the sound of gunshots to hold them back. Steven ran over to me to ask me to get into a truck.

“I need to check one last time,” I told him.

“No, you get into this truck and you leave right now,” he ordered me, grabbing my arm.

“No!” I looked at him determined. I pulled my arm away and ran towards the hospital. I ran through the hospital calling out and making sure no one was left behind. Multiple gunshots were fired outside. I ran to the door to see the MO already in the camp. I felt a hand clamp down on my mouth dragging me into the hospital.

“Shhhh, keep quiet,” I heard a man whispering to me.