"Good morning, Mrs Fearmer.How is little Madia doing?" Vera asked while checking on the baby girl.
"Thankfully, she settled much more easily with the nurse last night, so I was able to get some sleep," answered Pristine while taking a sip of her soup.
"If you want to have better sleep we are more than happy to take the baby to the Nursery for a few hours" Joan interjected as she adjusted the pillow behind her.
"I'd feel uneasy if she wasn't where I could see her" As expected, she rejected it outright.
"That is fine, just ask for help when you need it," Vera reassured her.
"Auntie! Auntie! I'm here to see you"
Said a boy about 8 years old, while running from the entrance to his aunt's bed.
Following behind him were Mr Farmer and a woman who bore a striking resemblance to him, likely his sister.
"Congratulations Pristine, how are you doing today?"
"We are both fine, George, do you want to meet your cousin?come closer"
"Woah, she is so small. When will she wake up? I want to see her eyes" said the naughty boy while reaching out.
"No, George. Don't wake her up or she will cry" His mother intervened at the right moment.
"But I want to see if we have the same eyes"
"Later,you can see it later"
"Your daughter is very beautiful, she will be a heartbreaker when she grows up," Ferial complemented while stroking the infant's head gently.
"Then, she must look like her aunt. By the way, how is aunt doing?"
"Mother is doing well, you know her old legs flare every other day. No big deal" The husband interrupted.
They say this, but both of them know their mother\mother-in-law just isn't happy about the baby's gender. They just let it slide.
"Brother, you stay with your wife, I have a friend who is staying in another ward I need to visit. I will go back by myself," said Ferial before departing with her reluctant son, leaving some space for the couple to talk.
The nurses quietly excused themselves as well, instinctively giving the family some privacy.
With the sun gradually rising, minutes turned to hours which pinpointed to lunch.
"I think Dr Alfred is way more challenging than Dr Faras. He sometimes really looks down on nurses" Helen commented
"Not as much as you think, the moment you prove your value he will tone it down naturally" Elise replied from the side while munching on her bread.
"Will it make a difference? We just need to get our job done and listen to orders," Lily said from the side, surprising the rest of her sudden obedience.
"True, but still you have to know your colleagues personality if you want to work long term" Said jenin pointing to the necessity of social ability within work.
"Augh, How did our conversation turn so serious? Anyway, how is married life for you?" Lucie changed the subject.
Lily replied with a shy smile, which everyone around started teasing.
"Aaaaaa—aaaaaa" Joan was met with Madia greeting her with a cry sounding across the hallway. Vera was there with her mother, both trying their best to calm her down.
Still crying even in her mother's embrace, who was trying to feed her even though she was not supposed to be hungry yet, after being breastfed before she left for lunch.
"Why is she crying?Did she wet herself? Or did she get hurt?" Joan asked as she walked closer.
"We don't know. She didn't get wet, or hurt. I even checked her temperature and it's normal, she just started crying. But I don't think it's a big deal, infants cry all the time without reason, she will calm down eventually" Vera reassured the mother calmly. She had seen this countless times before
"Can I try?" Joan asked while reaching her hands for Vera.
As she got a little tired, Vera decided to let Joan try, with mother's consent.
Aaaaaaaaaaaaah
Aaaa———aaah
Aa…..
The pitiful baby girl with the tears still hanging on her light eyelashes, calmed down as fast as she nestled in Joan's embrace.
"Wow, that was fast. You seem experienced" Vera asked with a little shock.
"I used to babysit my niece back home" The lie slipped out almost naturally, carrying with it a wave of nostalgia she hadn't allowed herself to indulge in for months.
"Oh, thanks to you, she is finally quiet"
Said Pristine gratefully.
"It's nothing" then she turned to Vera telling her to go have her lunch.
Joan surprised herself by mentioning her family, after all this time trying her best not to think too much about them while always wishing them the best. After all, what good will do to her, asking unanswered questions? Tormenting herself about their reaction to her disappearance?
–maybe they don't even remember me, maybe my existence got erased from that time entirely.
Joan reassured herself while putting Madia to sleep.
What do you think happened to Joan's family after time travelling? Share your thoughts on the comments 💭