The sun rose pale over the village roofs The light fell across the clinic floor in soft gold lines Emily had not slept The night had been long and slow Every time she closed her eyes she saw the boy’s face heard his mother’s breath stopping heard her own voice counting compressions that changed nothing

She sat beside the table that was now empty The cloth she had covered the woman with was folded neatly near the fire Lila had done that before sunrise The girl was already outside sweeping the dust like she always did but slower now Her movements were careful like she was trying not to wake the morning too fast

Hart was gone to the square to tell the elders about the burial They had rules for it here but Emily did not know them She was not from this place yet she had become part of every part of it Death connected people the same way birth did through hands and silence

She rubbed her hands together out of habit They were clean but still felt stained The muscles in her arms ached The skin under her eyes burned She breathed deep and forced herself to stand There were still patients waiting still fevers and cuts and lives that did not stop because she had failed one

Lila came in holding a small bowl of porridge It’s not much she said but it’s warm Emily smiled faintly and took it Thank you

They ate in quiet The porridge was thin but sweet Lila kept glancing at her like she wanted to say something but couldn’t

Say it Emily said without looking up

Lila hesitated then said You saved so many people before Maybe this one was just not meant to stay

Emily looked at her spoon resting in the bowl I used to tell myself that in the hospital too Some patients just don’t make it We said it so we could keep working But it never really feels true It just keeps you from falling apart

Lila tilted her head I don’t think she would want you to stop trying

Emily looked up at her and nodded slow You’re right She put the bowl aside I don’t stop We don’t stop

A voice came from outside calling Healer Emily stepped to the door A man stood there holding his arm wrapped in cloth stained dark with blood Behind him another held a young girl who was crying Her leg was twisted the wrong way from the knee

Emily’s mind snapped back into motion Bring them in she said The man hesitated but obeyed Inside the clinic the air filled again with the scent of work She moved from one to the other quick steady The man’s arm had been cut deep by a plow but it was clean She washed it pressed cloth tight and wrapped it firm The girl was harder Her leg was broken the bone pushing the skin but not through

Emily met her eyes You’re brave she said The girl nodded tears streaking her dirty face Emily held the leg still and pulled straight one smooth motion a soft pop then relief The girl gasped then clung to Lila’s hand breathing hard It’s over Emily said You did good

When it was done she sat back Her own breath shaky Her body wanted rest but her mind was sharper now The rhythm of care was its own medicine

Hart returned soon after His steps were heavy He leaned his staff against the wall and said quietly It’s done

Emily knew what that meant The burial She looked down and nodded Did people come

All he said was Yes then added The boy stayed until the end He said he wanted to help build the marker

Emily felt her throat tighten She whispered Good

Lila stood by the fire holding a small cloth of herbs She asked Should I bring food to him

Yes Emily said Bring him something warm Tell him he can come here if he needs to stay tonight

When Lila left the room fell quiet again The sound of the wind outside mixed with the creak of wood Emily leaned against the table and closed her eyes just for a moment

Hart’s voice came low You carry too much weight

Emily smiled tired You noticed

He nodded It shows in your eyes

She looked at him then at the small room around them It’s not just the death she said It’s that I can feel them starting to look at me like I’m not a person anymore Like I’m something that can’t break

You are the one who keeps them alive he said

That doesn’t mean I’m not tired

He didn’t answer for a long time Then he said Maybe they need to see you tired It reminds them you are one of them

Emily thought about that She looked at her hands rougher now with small cuts and burns from days of work She wondered if the people here even remembered that she came from somewhere else

Later that afternoon the boy came to the clinic His eyes were red but he did not cry anymore He held a small wooden charm in his hands carved roughly into the shape of a bird He stood in the doorway until Emily noticed him

She knelt beside him Hi

He looked at the charm then at her I made this for her He held it out You said she’s gone but maybe if I give it to you she will hear me when you heal people

Emily took the charm gently The edges were uneven the carving shallow but the shape was clear She felt something warm rise in her chest

I’ll keep it here she said touching her heart So every time I help someone she hears it

The boy nodded Then he surprised her by stepping forward and wrapping his small arms around her waist He held on tight just for a moment then stepped back without a word and left

Emily stood there still holding the little bird

Hart said from behind him That is your burden and your blessing

She nodded I know

When night fell she sat outside by the fire The stars were bright and cold The air smelled of smoke and dry grass Lila was already asleep inside and Hart had gone to check the gates The village was quiet

Emily turned the wooden bird over in her hand The light from the fire caught the small cracks in the carving She thought of the boy’s mother the sound of her last breath the weight of her silence the warmth of the child’s arms

She whispered to the night I will make this mean something

She took out her notebook and began to write by firelight Her handwriting uneven but steady

Teach them how to set broken bones
Teach them what to do when breath stops
Teach them that death is not the end of learning

She stopped and looked at the stars again They looked the same as home distant cold beautiful

For the first time since she had come here she let herself think of going back She wondered if the world she left would even recognize her now if the hospital halls still smelled like bleach and coffee if her locker still held her old badge

She shook the thought away She wasn’t done here yet

When Hart returned he found her still sitting awake staring into the dying fire He said You should rest

Soon she said

He looked at the small bird in her hand then at her face and said Quietly They will remember you longer than you want

Emily smiled faintly Maybe that’s the point

The fire burned down to embers The night grew cold The stars hung silent above a world that was still broken but healing

And Emily the nurse who became the village’s heart closed her eyes for the first time since the loss and let herself breathe without counting