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

frantic examination and realizing his injuries were only superficial, I broke down, clutching him

else! If something happened to you, what would

there silently for a moment before wrapping his arms around me,

I promise I’ll be more careful. I won’t put myself in danger, and I won’t make you

anymore.”

my face in his chest. “You have

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

it will turn into a puppy!”

my tears. “If you really turn into a puppy,

he

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

See? I’m not that easy to

until my eyes

that moment, I realized how precious every single day with Joseph truly was.

chaos of war escalated, the Ebola virus began its relentless assault on this already devastated

country.

THE

severe shortage of medical staff, he shuttled back and forth between refugee

treatment centers in several cities. Many doctors were forced to abandon their posts and evacuate immediately. But Joseph refused to

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

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Chapter 11

their

to stay and adapt to

outskirts of Goma, cutting off all routes

me a message, asking me to come to the treatment center. He didn’t explain

entered the medical waste disposal area. Inside an empty room that had been temporarily cleared out, I saw a group of Hutu children–over ten of them. They had escaped from the mountains, the

bodies covered in infected wounds. I couldn’t believe my

blood feud with the Hutus. If these children were