And everywhere she went she brought with her a peace that
was unfamiliar but welcome in an environment of destruction.
She was surrounded by war.
Surrounded by blood.
Surrounded by death.
But she remained pristine. Somehow she remained untouched
by the fight. Not just her clothes but her spirit too remained unscarred.
And she tended to the injured.
She walked among the hurt and the dying stopping often to
extend a healing hand. She tended to wounds, spoke kind words of care, and
calmed restless and disturbed minds.
Many took comfort in her passing, just knowing that she
was among them was enough.
And every so often she offered an unusual kindness to the
dying.
She offered pudding.
She sat down next to the man.
His wounds were severe.
She saw his labored breathing, and his winces of pain.
She took his hand and spoke her kind words and he
relaxed.
“Would you like some pudding?” she asked.
“That would be nice.” He managed to whisper.
She reached into her hefty bag and brought out a pudding,
and a spoon.
And with extreme care, she slowly helped him eat.
“Chocolate? It is good.” He said.
“Thank you.” she replied.
And when they were finished, he said “Thank you”.
“You’re welcome.” She replied. “Now rest.”
She stayed with him a little longer. Holding his hand as
he struggled to breathe. Comforting him.
Slowly he slipped away.
And she watched as his breathing stopped. A tear running
down her face.
It never got easier.
She returned that night to her tent and washed away the
trials of the day.
But she still had work to do.
She began to make pudding. It was now one of her rituals
that helped bring her peace.
She toiled away in the light of her lamp, a bowl of
apples in the corner lending her their refreshing scent.
And when finally she was finished she went to her bed and
removed a wooden box from under it.
Carefully, like it was the most precious thing in the
world, she gingerly placed in its velvet cushion a small crystal bottle.
Her now almost empty bottle of cyanide.
That night as she dreamed she sighed in her sleep, “I
need more apples.”
