Hi! I decided against doing a flashback to Miss Laine's past as I want that to happen more gradually and I want to focus on the other character storylines. For these next few chapters, please read until the end.

With the half term break fast approaching, Miss Laine decided that they couldn't wait for Leonie. They'd just have to hope she recovered with enough time to learn the dances.

Miss Laine approached Kennedy. "Have you seen Maxon?"

Kennedy shook her head. "I texted him to ask where he was but he hasn't seen it."

"He never usually misses a rehearsal", said Miss Laine, a worried look on her face.

-

Isaac was tasked with choreographing a small routine that incorporated tap dancing. The others involved were Stanley, Maxon and Weronika.

Rehearsals were going well and Stanley picked up the choreography quite well- but without Maxon and Weronika, the piece didn't look right.

Meredith approached Isaac. "Hey, I just wanted to say it's really cool how you're not letting what Weronika said get you down."

Isaac furrowed his eyebrows. "Wait, what? What did she say?"

Meredith's eyes widened and she gasped. "I... I'm sorry! I thought you knew. God, I'm so stupid."

"Know what?", asked Isaac.

Meredith sighed. "Well it's just, I overheard Weronika bashing your heritage. Now I'm not saying she's like her other family members but... I don't know, maybe that's just how she was brought up."

Isaac shook his head. "No. No, that can't be right. Weronika's never been mean to me, or made sly digs about me being Jewish. You must've got it wrong."

Meredith shrugged. "Maybe. But if that's true... why isn't she here? When it's your dance that needs working on?"

"She's always late", answered Isaac.

"She was a big part in helping prove Miss Laine's innocence. So don't you think it's weird that she's still not coming on time? Unless...no forget it."

"Unless what?"

Meredith sighed. "Unless she feels uncomfortable around you?"

As if by magic, Weronika walked in, her breathing laboured. "S-Sorry I'm late..."

"Weronika, you've been late for every rehersal since we started.  How do I know I can count on you to be punctual for the actual show?", asked Miss Laine.

"I'll try and come on time tomorrow, Miss. Some...home commitments have been getting in the way."

Miss Laine nodded and let her join the group. "Hey Weronika!", smiled Isaac, trying to remain friendly with her. "You've been late for a long time, is everything ok?"

Weronika sighed in frustration. "Can you just drop it, Isaac?" She stormed off to change into her dance clothes.

-
Maxon watched his Mum as she took 2 tablets and sat down, rubbing her head. "Mum? Is it the nightmares again?"

"Oh Maxon, I'm fine. Really. Work's just... tough", said his Mum.

"But if these nightmares keep-"

"-Maxon, I said leave it!", yelled his Mum, surprising herself. "I'm so sorry, love. I didn't mean to shout."

"Mum it's me. Your son. You can tell me anything", said Maxon.

Tears formed in his Mum's eyes and after a few seconds, she sighed. "I just... I keep seeing her face."

Maxon's mother helped look after a young girl only two years younger than Maxon. Sadly, she died a few weeks ago.

Since then, Maxon's mother has had nightmares and believes there's more she could've done.

His mother broke down, sobbing uncontrollably. He never saw his mother like this. It broke his heart to see his Mum hurting so much but not be able to do anything.

At a loss for what to do, Maxon decided to make her lasagne, her favourite food.

His mother stared at the small beaded bracelet in her hands, smiling fondly as she re-lived the memory.

A young girl with curly hair and hazel eyes gave her a weak smile. She raised her hand and waved. "Morning, Nurse Martin."

"How many times, Gracie? Call me Eva", said Maxon's mother, a warm smile on her face. "How are you feeling?"

"These drugs are supposed to make me feel better, right?", asked Gracie. "Cos I feel super tired."

Eva chuckled. "That's the point, love. Besides, you don't shut up normally so this is more for our benefit."

Gracie playfully rolled her eyes. "Haha you're very funny", she said, sarcastically. "Nurse Eva?"

"Yes?"

"Why are you being so nice to me? I was a right bi- uh, well I was really mean to ya. So why are you being nice to me?"

"You were scared. Hospitals aren't a particularly nice place to be in initially. I knew you were just frightened and in pain", explained Eva.

Gracie smiled. "Do you have any kids?"

Eva nodded. "A son. A couple years older than you, actually."

Gracie's smile brightened. "I bet you're an amazing Mum."

Eva blushed. "Well, with the amount of laundry I do I should bl**dy hope so!"

Gracie laughed. "You always make me laugh, Nurse Eva."

"Just Eva's fine."

Gracie shook her head. "No, I like calling you Nurse. You're like my Nurse and Guardian angel rolled into one."

Eva's eyss widened, the compliment taking her by surprise. "Oh wow... I'm honoured."

Gracie smiled. "I don't know if I could've gone through this without you."

"Of course you would've. You have your Mum."

Gracie sighed. "Yeah. Right. She tries so hard but... she's never at home. Always working. It's been like that since Dad died. We never really get to talk any more."

Eva frowned. "Have you spoken to her about it?"

Gracie shook her head. "No. I don't want to seem spoiled, always demanding her attention. I know she cares about me... even if she doesn't show it."

A tall man with a kind face walked towards them. "Ey up, Gracie! Time for your operation."

Gracie fiddled with the beaded bracelet around her wrist. She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. When she opened them, she took her bracelet off and held it out to Eva. "If something happens-"

"-Gracie... you'll be ok", said Eva, softly.

"No, I know. But if I get transferred somewhere else or if you can't see me as often... I want you to have this. To say thanks for putting up with me."

Eva smiled and took the bracelet, putting it into her pocket. "Thank you. I've loved every minute of it, Gracie."

Later that day, following complications to her surgery, Gracie sadly died on the operating table.

So Eva held Gracie's mother as she cried. She held the woman Gracie had said many bad things about, good things about- thing's she'd never know Gracie had said.

All that mattered in that moment was that she was holding a mother who had just lost their baby.

Eva broke down, sobbing into her hands and brushing the bracelet against her cheek. "I can't do it... she's gone because of me, Maxon."

Maxon rushed to her side, pulling her into a hug. "No, Mum. It ain't your fault. Loss is part of your job."

"What's the point in it? What's the point in all this is people keep dying? If young people who have their whole lives ahead of them keep dying? I can't save them... I want to save them."

Maxon was at a loss for words. He knew his Mum had a difficult job but he didn't know that these were the thoughts that raced through her head.

Maxon's Mum wiped her eyes and stood up. "You go, love. I'll finish the lasagne. Thank you, Maxon."

Maxon shook his head. "No, I'm not-"

"- Please! Please, Maxon. I need to be alone for a bit."

Maxon sighed. He grabbed his coat and decided to go to the one place he felt comfortable.

-

Hi! This storyline is quite short but still very important. I feel very strongly about this too. Medical staff are under paid, over worked and under appreciated. I heard somewhere that 'it doesn't take a genius to know that tired nurses are going to make mistakes.' It's so true- you can't expect them to perform at their best when they're tired and not appreciated.

I have so much respect for medical professionals and it makes me really upset to know that they are treated like cr*p. Not just by the public, but also by people higher up in the institution.

If you take anything away from this, please let it be this:

Medical staff are people, just like us. Yet they train for years to be able to help others, so the least wr can do is show them some respect and help them.

-cherrysvalanxe

ATHENA-yeonnie

CaptainHermioneSwan

DoodleYeet

gillioddities

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starryeyedturtle