THE BATTLEFIELD OF LOVE
Episodes 18. Reconciliation
"You gonna be okay?" Mom suddenly appeared in my room as I prepared for the night before I went to Norman. I looked towards him.
"We're there at the army base, I'll be fine." This time he looked worried. A few years ago when I went to Afghanistan, he just told me to be careful.
At that time I thought I was useless in front of him. I went along with feeling hurt. But then I realized he was drinking. Maybe he doesn't even know what I'm saying.
Two days later he called me asking me where I was because I didn't come home. Well at least he's still checking if I'm alive or dead.
"How long will you be there." Finally she turned to my side while helping me fold my clothes.
"I don't know, it could be months until the operation is over." I answered but didn't see it. I was just busy putting clothes in my backpack.
"I'm sorry..." Now that I see her, her eyes look teary.
"I'm sorry for what...?"
"For my words have underestimated your efforts all along. I didn't mean to say that all your efforts were meaningless, you were right Mom was guilty of you. I'm sorry I probably won't pay you enough for your mistakes. I just feel sorry for you to work so hard. I don't mean to say all your efforts are in vain..."
He said it was straight in front of me that kept me quiet for a long time. She's my only family, she's my mother. All his words mean so much to me... I finally felt like he saw me as his son.
"Mother, I love you..." I hugged her later and for the first time we cried together and felt like a Mother and a child.
"You should take care of yourself in Dallas. Come back here safely." He looked at me and wiped my tears.
"I'm going home. You have to take care of yourself. Don't eat undercooked meat, don't drink tap water before you boil it again, stop drinking..." He nodded while wiping his tears.
"I'll be fine. I promise I won't drink again now..." I smiled a little.
I went to my closet, pulled something out of her little drawer.
"It's 2,000 dollars. Save for you. If there is no urgent need, do not use it. I'll transfer every month to you my paycheck as usual."
"It's not... Aren't you saving for your college. Mom still has money. Save for you... Mom is fine. The city is still running as usual." He returned the envelope to me.
"No, I still have savings. My boyfriend gives me enough every month. Here's toyou... " I chuckled, she was right about having someone next to you turned out to be very helpful.
"You got a boyfriend?" He's flabbergasted . "Who... Why don't you ever mention it."
"We haven't talked in all this time." Reminded him.
"You're right too..." We laughed together.
I told her who Fred was. Including he had proposed to me and was willing to wait for me to finish college.
"Looks like he cares about you..."
"He's very good." Can't be a clear fact.
"He's here now?"
"Unfortunately he's stuck in Dallas isolation. Haven't been able to get out until now..."
"Yes, but he said there's a registration test for exit clearance as soon as tomorrow. I hope he can come back soon." I can only pray now.
"You must return safely, be careful."
He hugged me again. For my departure this time it seems that I can sigh in relief leaving her. Finally after all these years I was able to talk to Mom again without any more heartache.
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The Norman Regional Hospital
We arrived at five o'clock in the afternoon at Norman Regional Hospital, after we had to wait for the soldiers to deal with the infected.
The hospital is a fairly large hospital. Some of his medical staff are still volunteers and willing to stay. The military promised them protection.
Next to us is housing. The military has set perimeters of safe blocks around us. The houses were also as resting places for soldiers. Frances Cate Park located in the east which is only 600 meters to become a military vehicle parking lot.
Our military brifer explained everything we needed to know about where we worked. Mukai from evacuation routes, safe places, weapons sites and how to deal with the break-through
It seems they've killed quite a lot of infected here.
Major Joseph will head the team at this hospital and direct the procedure to civilian medical staff that we will do if someone is bitten. While me and the nurses then studied the room and equipment of this hospital from the civilian nurses who were still on duty.
A young nurse named Maria showed me their supply system.
"You did not evacuate Maria..." I asked him after he finished explaining.
"My parents aren't here. They're safe, I decided I'd be safer for the soldiers. Our help is still needed here. And this is my first experience working under the military system, I won't miss it..." He seems to be excited about his job here.
Until the night we had finished studying everything in the hospital. The staff and doctors who are still here are about 30 people and we who have just come three teams of about 30 people I think this is quite enough to cover the rolling emergency.
The troop deployment will begin tomorrow morning. We are prepared for all possibilities.
"This facility is complete, we will be able to help a lot here. No operation has begun tonight. You're traveling a long way to get ready for a break." Dr. Joseph directly split our rolling shift for the next day.
"Dallas is getting worse. There are thousands of new cases of infection and many infected roam at night. The military and police put a curfew there." James told me the latest news when I took food at the army cafeteria.
"What is the source of the infection?"
"CDC suspects beef or ***** of origin of a large farm in Canada . The infection does not occur at once, may have to enter the incubation period of about two to three new months the parasite has enough power to affect the human body system. Now they prohibit the consumption of all beef**** and other sheep. Much of our flesh is imported from there..." So maybe El Paso will be hit too?
"According to the tracking no Canadian meat goes into El Paso. " Thank God, I breathed a sigh of relief. But why Texas is so much of a victim. Texas has enough farms of its own and the results of its farm must also go to El Paso...?"
"They're still investigating it. And still don't have an answer to it. Why Texas has a severe infection. There may be strains that cause infection here as well... I don't know. Or we'll never find out where the parasite first came from..."
Suddenly our pager rang. Emergency signs in emergency.
What's up until we have to be called in to help with the night shift.