The Life of a Nurse
Never a
day went by that Eugenia did not miss the rising of the sun, which she all owed
to the children she watched after. She particularly was grateful for little
Appius Sergia Silus, whom she privately referred to as Lux Mea (Latin) or Fos Mou
(Greek) –my light, because he was always the earliest to rise and was never
quite in the right mood the rest of the day if he did not get to see the
sunrise.
Creek, creek, creek.
Eugenia gradually rose out of bed, wiping the evidence of sleep
that had encrusted in the corner of her eyes over the night. She need not look to see which child was
already awake because it was always young Appius that got to her first. Today,
was an especially early day as it was still dark as ever outside.
“Ah, good morning, Fos
Mou,” she cooed as she wrapped her arms around him and pulled him into a
soft embrace. Now, that he was two, she simply gave him some grape juice, which
was to keep him satisfied until the Master and Mistress were prepared to take
him to partake in the Triumph that
was to occur later that day. As all days of festivity, she would have that time
at her leisure, but she was not sure just yet what she would do with it.
To pass some time before their morning ritual, she pulled
out one of his toy hobbyhorses and set him down to play. He squealed as she
trotted the horse back and forth across his stubby legs, neighing away. She knew
it was wrong to favor him above the rest of the children, but she could not
help it. There was something about him that drew her to him; the way he lit up
anytime he saw her. “My turn,” he
stated, awakening her from her thoughts. “Later,”
she promised. It was beginning to lighten outside.
Taking little Appius’ hand, she led him outside to their
usual sitting spot on the property that provided a clear and unobstructed view
of the rising-sun. She always sat first
and allowed little Appius to take rest in her lap. He was deep in conversation
about something one of the children did the other day when the sun hit the
horizon. His jaw suddenly dropped as he pointed to the source of the light.
These were the little moments she lived for; this was her life as a nurse.
