Nurse with a Magic Touch | The Girl With Wings

Five: Nurse With a Magical Touch

A month of peace dissipated as the smallpox entered the town. Everyone had stayed in their homes, fearing the sickness. Those who got the virus were overflowing Firly’s hospital, and saving lives was a struggle. There was gossip that Firly would lose most of its citizens or take the sick to another institution where they could be treated. Faith observed the lonely streets from the window as the wind blew snow over the cobblestone road. She placed her hands against the glass, and the feeling of helping others rose again. If she could heal Isaac, could she save other people?

She longfully sighed before entering the living area with Ruthe rocking in her wooden chair and Lennox reading an astronomy book. Their attention turned to her as soon as she walked into the room. Faith put her hands together, saying, “Mrs. and Mr. Folk?”

“You can call me Ruthe,” Ruthe told her. “You don’t need to be formal with us.”

“Okay, Ruthe…and Lennox,” Faith hesitantly corrected.

“What do you want, Faith?” Lennox asked.

“I hate how these people are suffering. I love the days when I see the town alive during the day,” Faith spoke with a smile, “I want to help them like I did to Isaac.”

“Are you sure, Faith,” Lennox questioned. “We don’t want you to get sick either.”

“It’s either me or hundreds of others.”

Lennox and Ruthe looked at each other. Ruthe smiled at him. She was waiting for this day for Faith to show her gift. She didn’t need to say anything. Her husband nodded at her before turning back to Faith. He declared, “You can help out. Just be careful, kid.”

The parents wanted to test Faith’s ability by leading her to Lennox’s sister’s house, Kelly, who lived alone and came down with smallpox. She was in the city's core, which contained mostly commercial buildings. Kelly lived on top of a restaurant. She still walked around, but she looked like she would collapse at any moment. She was trying to make tea before they walked in the door. Her auburn hair was frazzled. The poor woman had lumps and rashes all over. They made Kelly sit down while Ruthe made the tea. Faith walked up and placed her hand on Kelly’s chest when everything was situated.

“What are you doing?” Kelly uttered.

“Sh, just watch,” Lennox ordered.

Faith’s longing for Kelly to live started hesitant, feeling she would fail and Kelly wouldn’t make it. The feeling of disappointment felt more painful than being upset. She then recounted her experience with healing Isaac. She had to believe in herself and trust the process. Faith closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

Immediately, Faith’s hand glowed. Faith heard the serene tunes of her power, holding herself from humming to the melody. She heard Kelly sharply inhale. The father and Kelly were stunned while Ruthe watched from the kitchen, smiling as she stirred the tea. Lennox hadn't seen her do it before, unlike Ruthe and Isaac, so this was all a new experience for him. Kelly’s breathing relaxed and cleared up. The pox began to scab over. Faith opened her eyes to see the woman in tranquility. Her hand stopped glowing. In both times, her power also had a mind of its own, giving an ample share instead of the amount in Faith’s heart. Maybe it was for the best, or Faith needed to learn to use her powers more.

Faith had proven to her new parents that she could heal and that it was not a one-time deal. The day after her healing Kelly, Kelly arrived at their doorstep to thank her. That was a sign that Faith could go to the hospital. When she entered the cramped hospital, everyone was in awe of seeing the girl with wings.

"Are we dreaming?" A dark-skinned little boy asked sweetly, unable to look away from her. He was lying next to a teenage girl who also had smallpox.

"No, everyone can see it, including the nurses." The teenage girl pointed to the older nurse who passed close to Faith. The nurse screamed. The girl laughed. "The nurse is immune to seeing sickness from us, but when she sees a dainty child with heavenly features, she loses it."

"Yeah, all of us are losing it," the boy agrees.

Although nervous, Faith tried to keep a calm and sweet demeanor before them. She held her hands together before her, taking in the patients' reactions. She kept telling herself that she could do this, and it would be all worth it in the end.

One by one, Faith healed every sick patient to relieve their misery. She did more than mend the ones with the virus. She healed those suffering from wounds or any other ailment. But when it came down to those who were already death-bound, it was a different story. She entered a hospital room with an old man. He had a bald spot, long white hair sprouting from his sides, and a white beard. He was more plump than average. He didn’t have smallpox, but Faith could see he wasn’t well. When she placed his hand against his chest, her hand glowed but immediately fizzled out. Faith sensed fear from both herself and the old man. She withdrew and stared at her hand worriedly.

She helplessly thought, I can’t save everyone, but what is this?

“I’m afraid I won’t see my dear Elandria again,” the old man spoke, scaring Faith.

“Who is Elandria?” Faith asked. “Your wife?”

“Yes, child. She died six months ago. I’m afraid if I die, I won’t be able to see her again. I fear that I won’t meet her in the afterlife. I might find myself in permanent darkness or be cast down into a painful world to atone, where she won’t be there,” he explained to her.

Another new thing for Faith was that she couldn’t save him from death, but she wanted to assist him in some other way. He wanted to be with his lover again. It had similarities and differences to Faith’s mourn for her parents. She wanted to see them again, not by death, but seeing them as a ghost or them being alive. The latter was not going to happen. On the other hand, the elderly gentleman wanted to see her after he crossed over. The experience wouldn’t happen until Faith was on her deathbed too.

Her mind kept coming up with what to say to comfort the man. “Do you believe in the afterlife?” She asked.

“Somewhat,” he replied. He looked at her wings, “but seeing your wings suggests that there is an afterlife.”

“I was born from two humans,” Faith clarified, “I am just a human with wings.”

“But what you can do is extraordinary. Sometimes, the world has an otherworldly quality to it. It may be scary and unknown, but it is beautiful– ethereal. If someone like you can be born with wings, there is a possibility that there is the other side. I am nervous that my afterlife won’t take me to my wife that I loved for a very long time and will send me on another path.”

“Have you done anything wrong? We are prone to make mistakes, so the other side might be lenient for you.”

“I have made mistakes, child, but I never committed a crime or done something that I thought was immorally wrong. Life can be cruel. It can throw you in dire situations even if you are good,” he told Faith.

“Misery can hit anyone, but don’t let it get to you– fight through it. It was lonely when my parents died, and I lived alone, yet I was accepted into my new family. Kindness is rewarding and should never vanish.”

“Elandria was a sweet wife. Beforehand, I was a hard stone because my parents were harsh and barely let me outside. I thought the rest of the world was like them, but when I left, Elandria showed me the light.”

Faith nodded in sympathy. “No one deserves to be treated like that. If she showed you the good side of humanity, she might lead you to the light again too.” She smiled.

The old man yawned. His breathing slowed down. “My time is coming soon, child. I appreciate your conversation with me.”

Faith held his hand as he stared off into space. Before he passed, the fear softened as he pointed to the corner of the room. “Elandria is here, smiling, over there,” he said weakly.

Faith looked at the corner. She didn’t see her until she saw a bright woman with wavy brown hair and hazel eyes. Elandria seemed so young and healthy. She was smiling. “You are tired, Harold. You must come home,” Elandria said while Faith repeated her words.

Harold glanced at Faith and stated, “That is what she said. It’s time for me to come home. Thank you. I wish you nothing but happiness. Stay well, child, stay well.” Harold closed his eyes and died with a smile. Faith turned to the corner, and the woman waved and faded into thin air. She realized that she could help others without her powers. A simple talk could make things go right. She couldn't resist crying, and he was a stranger to her. It was a sweet but sad sight. She cried on the dead man's chest before leaving with puffy red eyes.

Faith’s healing at the hospital made the virus wane, saving the town. Officials put regulations on hygiene and personal care to keep illnesses low. The hospital staff were thankful for her efforts and had more room for unwell patients. Kelly told locals where the girl had lived, so people visited Faith’s new home, giving her silver coins, food, and their thanks. As much as Faith was shy and unsure about being revealed to the public, it was nice to see her family earning a better life from her actions. They could afford more scrumptious meals, better furniture, education, and pay the bills. Travelers outside Firly headed to the town to see the girl with wings to be healed or talk with her. She became Firly’s nurse with a magical touch.