Salvation Equation - Chapter 24. New Doctor

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Nottingham mansion, no, it was now a hospital. The number of patients hospitalized one after another was increasing. It was rushing in to the point where it was almost unbearable.

Madeline guided the patients in the cars into the hospital and recorded their condition on paper.

A total of three patients were admitted this time. One seemed likely to be discharged soon with a relatively minor injury, while another stepped on a land mine and lost his legs.

And the last patient…

He had burns all over his body.

Unidentified, presumably belonging to the Allied Forces. Coma state. He was carried on a stretcher like a mummy of Ramses II.

The nurses and doctors who saw it frowned. No matter how proficient they were, it seemed that this was the first time such a tragedy had occurred. Madeline, too, was unable to cope with her initial physiological rejection.

But soon they all regained their professional calm. They immediately moved the patient to the ward and began promptly checking his movements.

“The patient’s name is….”

No one knew his name until he woke up. Patient X. That was his name for the time being.

Patient X. Madeline took a close look at the person. The surface of his face had already melted, making it difficult to distinguish the shape, and his limbs were also covered with burns. All clues to prove him were also burned out.

Fortunately, it was clear that he belonged to the Allied Forces. That’s why he’s been escorted all the way here.

Madeline carefully cleaned the patient’s body and took great care of him. The other patients were also taken care of, but Patient X particularly was her interest. Perhaps she was thinking of Ian. Maybe.

Because the patient was unconscious, it was difficult to ascertain his status, but Madeline had compassion for people. Soldiers wounded by the tragedy of war did not feel like strangers. Not just war, but all those who were sick and struggling.

And when she felt such compassion, Madeline was able to realize how closed her life was in the past. At that time, her misfortune seemed to be the heaviest, but now her misfortune also seemed infinitely light.

It was not bad.

She didn’t mean to disparage the past. But it was surprising that there were many things that were missed.

On that day too, Patient X was turned over and the condition was checked. Suddenly, Isabel approached with quick steps. She couldn’t run because she was in the hospital room, so she snuggled close to Madeline and whispered in her ear.

“Madeline, I got a letter from lan.”

She shoved a long green envelope into Madeline’s arms.

{Dear Miss Madeline Loenfield. 

I want you to stop sending me letters. Please do not misunderstand. It’s not your problem. It’s entirely my personal matter.

Let’s go ahead and get to the point.

At least I don’t think I’ll ever go back alive.

Correspondence with someone you will never see again is unnecessary. Your letter is ominous. It makes me want to live every time I realize that I am so worthless. Aren’t false hopes dangerous?

Please. Please don’t give me false hope.

lan Nottingham. }

A strikethrough was drawn over the word ‘Dear’ in the letter.

“Madeline?”

Isabel saw Madeleine holding the letter and called her name anxiously. Madeleine’s hands were trembling. She bit her lower lip.

“Madeline, are you okay?”

Madeline turned her head and just left the hospital room.

She couldn’t cry in front of the patients. She went straight to the sink and washed her face vigorously. Tap water and tears mixed together. The sound of water drowned out sobs.

Why? After reading about how Ian was collapsing, intense pain began to pierce her lungs. Her hands were constantly trembling. It was painful.

Her suffering was twofold. The pain that came from the fact that she felt pain.

Was it sympathy? No.

It was her arrogance. She thought she could save Ian. But she had neither the authority nor the ability to do so. She was just sending him letters……. There was no way to prevent the misfortune that would befall the man with just words.

She had already abandoned him in her previous life. With what authority could she save him without any qualifications?

Hot tears dripped down her cheeks. But she thought it was tap water.

****

Everyone stood in front of the Countess, the owner and general manager of the Nottingham hospital.

At first, there were only about five people, but now they had grown quite a bit for a hospital.

“Another doctor will come in.”

The Countess was now in completely practical attire. There were no fancy hats or dresses. She wore a plain gray skirt, but her expression, which was depressed by her husband’s death, was energized.

A new job and a new calling gave her vitality. Indeed, it was thanks to Isabel. A person’s true talent was not known until they encountered it in person. Who would have expected that the Countess would be an excellent manager? She ran the hospital brilliantly.

“Not long ago, he served as a medical officer on the Western Front. He suffered a piercing wound in his shoulder and was forced to resign. He is a talented person who studied neurophysiology in Vienna. I hope this helps a lot.”

“….”

Madeline felt somewhat ominous. She was alone, shivering with a chill. Isabel whispered into Madeline’s ear.

“I heard the new doctor comes from a high-status family. I hope he’s a good person. You and I have enough smug nobles.”

She laughed mischievously.

Madeline replied with a smirk, as if she knew nothing.

***

—I shut my eyes and all the world drops dead;

I lift my lids and all is born again.

(I think I made you up inside my head.)

The stars go waltzing out in blue and red,

And arbitrary blackness gallops in.

I shut my eyes and all the world drops dead.

“Mad Girl’s Love Song” BY Sylvia Plath

***

Maybe it was because she forgot to eat or sleep and was engrossed in caring for the patients. Madeline got a fever. She thought it would be a waste of time if she continued like this, so she lay down in the bedroom alone and rested.

There was a loud knock on the door.

Madeline sighed.

“Isabel, I’m fine. I think I’ll be better if you just leave me alone!”

Suddenly, the door swung open. What appeared through the door was Isabel and a man. Judging by the fact that he was wearing a doctor’s uniform, he looked like the new doctor the Countess had mentioned earlier.

“Doctor, let’s examine the poor woman over there who was overworked and collapsed.”

“You don’t have to…”

Madeline straightened her posture and sat up. She fanned her hands to cool her face from the heat, but to no avail.

All of a sudden, the man walked up to Madeline. He was a tall man.

He came closer to her, and at once placed a hand on Madeline’s forehead. There was no time to retreat.

“You have a high fever.”

This voice. Madeline’s heart pounded and crashed down. The identity of the face when she looked up…

Nope. It couldn’t be like this. It shouldn’t be like this.

It was Cornell Arlington.

***