The Ruined Bride of Velvet Nights by Brick Moving Ant

Chapter 11

Joseph and I started dating, but our demanding jobs meant we rarely had time to see each other.

Most of our encounters took place in war–torn regions–he’d be rushing to treat the wounded, while I’d be in the operating room, fighting to save lives.

A fleeting touch as we brushed past each other was often the only connection we shared.

The patchy network signal didn’t help either, Days would pass without hearing from each other, but then, out of nowhere, my phone would buzz nonstop as messages flooded in. They were disorganized, chaotic, as if they too had braved gunfire and destruction, but they carried the weight of longing and steadfast affection.

The situation in North Kivu grew increasingly dire.

Our first argument happened on the day a village near Goma was attacked.

When we arrived, the armed militants hadn’t fully retreated, and the security forces were still exchanging fire with them.

We rushed back to the vehicle, preparing to evacuate, but Joseph suddenly jumped out of the ambulance.

There, at the edge of the battlefield, lay a collapsed villager.

Joseph hoisted the man onto his back and carried him to safety, his own body cut and bleeding from shrapnel.

I was furious and terrified, yelling at him, “Are you trying to get yourself killed?”

But he stood his ground. “I’m a doctor! I couldn’t just leave him there! His leg was injured, but he could’ve survived. If I didn’t save him, he would’ve died for sure!”

I knew he was right, and I knew it was his duty to save lives.

But when he returned covered in blood–so much blood I couldn’t tell which was his and which

wasn’t–my composure crumbled.

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Chapter 11

were only

If something happened to you, what would I

stood there silently for a moment before wrapping his

I won’t put myself in danger, and I

anymore.”

I buried my face in his

let’s make a pinky swear,” he said, taking my hand.

whoever breaks it will turn into a puppy!”

turn into a puppy, how would I introduce you to my mom?”

boyfriend?” he teased, grinning.

still, pretending to be dead. Panicked, I quickly pulled the pillow away, only to see his sly smile

See? I’m not that easy to

my eyes stung and blurred

every single day with Joseph

chaos of war escalated, the Ebola virus

country.

THE

shortage of medical staff, he shuttled back and forth

sudden attacks on treatment centers in several cities. Many doctors were forced to abandon their posts

was still relatively stable. On the other hand, nearly a hundred patients remained in the center. If everyone left, those patients would

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Chapter 11

their beds.

four other doctors decided to stay and adapt

cutting off all routes in and out. We were trapped in the city.

to the treatment center. He

the medical waste disposal area. Inside an empty room that had been temporarily cleared out, I

bodies covered in infected wounds.

were Tutsis, and the Tutsis had a deep–seated blood feud with the Hutus. If these