Another day in Richmond, another day by Christina's bedside. Time seemed to pass at the speed of molasses in January with nothing to distinguish the monotony of the days. Corrie's poetry book was full from recording her every emotion, the victory garden was free of weeds, and still Christina had yet to recover.

Nearly a month had passed since they'd first arrived, and the end of July was in sight. Christina had showed some improvement, gaining enough strength to sit up and talk with Hannah about the newspaper for a few hours at a time, but the raspy cough and languishing fever remained.

Corrie jotted another line of poetry in the margins of the last page of her poetry journal. Sometimes she wrote long poems, extending over multiple pages, and other times she wrote only a line or two as if the words were stranded sentiments floating about in her head. All the time for reflection had engendered melancholia and hopelessness inside Corrie that the days at Christina's beside only reinforced.

"Corrie?" a voice whispered from the door, and Corrie turned to see Hannah's head peeking through the door.

Setting aside her journal and pen, Corrie quietly slipped from the room into the hallway of Dr. Howard's practice. Hannah and Jack both stood in the hallway waiting for her, their blouses and skirts dusty from helping transport medical supplies.

"What's going on?" Corrie asked, hiding her ink-stained hands in her skirt.

"When was the last time you left the house?" Hannah asked, hands on her hips.

Corrie rolled her eyes; they'd been trying to convince her to get out of the house for weeks, but she was afraid to leave Christina's side. "I go to Mrs. Howard's victory garden every day."

"And when was the last time you went beyond that?" Hannah goaded. "Church last Sunday?"
Corrie glowered. "You know I can't leave Christina."

"Of course she shouldn't be alone," Jack chimed in, "but we can sit with her for a few hours so you can go outside and get the stink blown off of you." Jack held her nose and waved her hand in front of her face. "Pee yew."

Corrie laughed. "I'm supposed to trust the two of you?"
"Seriously, Corrie, we'll sit with her. Go outside this afternoon, take a walk," Hannah urged.

"I do need to purchase a new journal," Corrie admitted reluctantly.

Truth be told, she'd barely spoken with anyone outside of their small circle of acquaintances in weeks.

"Perfect! You go explore the town this afternoon, and we'll watch over Christina," Hannah declared.

"Our Dr. Benjamin has to fetch a few things from town today as well; I suppose he could accompany you since we'll both be busy," Jack suggested, unable to hide a lascivious grin.

Corrie frowned and ignored the two women, instead going to the room she shared with Jack and Hannah to fetch her bag with her old journal tucked inside and a bit of money. She stepped out of the Howards' home into the hot summer day, shielding her eyes from the sun with a hand.

"Miss Walker, good afternoon!"

Corrie saw Dr. Benjamin, squinting and smiling at her through the bright sunshine. Of course. No doubt Hannah and Christina had conspired to arrange for the two to meet.

"I was just planning to walk into town to fetch a new notebook," Corrie explained.

"Perhaps you will permit me to you accompany you? I'm going into town as well to purchase a few supplies for Dr. Howard."

Corrie considered rejecting his offer for her own sake but couldn't offer him the insult. "Of course, I'd be glad for the company."

They strolled down the sidewalk towards the center of Richmond amidst the smell of blooming asters and the clouds painting shadows on the ground.

"You mentioned you are in need of a new notebook; do you keep a diary?" Dr. Benjamin asked.

Corrie felt her face flush at his assumption as if she were some silly school girl recording dreams about her latest paramour. "Oh, no, not a diary. I...I write when I have time."

"Ah, yes, I can't believe I've forgotten." Dr. Benjamin struck his forehead. "You're getting a degree in English, are you not? And what do you write, Miss Walker?"

Face still red, Corrie murmured, "I write poetry."

Corrie glanced up at the doctor and saw the smile that stretched wide across his face at the revelation. His eyes seemed to disappear in genuine pleasure.

"That explains your excellent taste in poetry, then! I've been known to dabble a bit in the arts, but I'm more of a reader than a writer." He hesitated for a moment, running his hand through his hair. "If you should ever desire an opinion on your work, I'd be more than happy to read it."
Corrie stuttered, "Oh, I couldn't put you out-"

"I assure you, Miss Walker, it would be no trouble," the doctor said, his gaze appraising her. "Of course, I understand it may not be something you wish to share. I have no desire to intrude on your privacy."

"No, it's not that," Corrie insisted. "I just...I've never shared my poetry with anyone. I suppose I'm afraid that after sacrificing so much to pursue my writing that I have no skill at the very craft I treasure."

Dr. Benjamin's eyes softened, and Corrie wished she would not have said anything. It did not seem fair that he should know a detail she held so close to her heart when her own suitor did not.

"I understand. If you should change your mind, I'd be more than glad to read it. I'm certain, however, that you are an excellent writer."

Corrie laughed derisively. "How can you be so sure?"

Dr. Benjamin's face grew serious as he furrowed his eyebrows, tiny wrinkles forming. "You have a certain strength, a perseverance, a determination. Your dedication to caring for your sister and helping her improve assures me that you will succeed at whatever you attempt."

Corrie's face heated under his praise, and she cast her eyes to the ground, her boot kicking a stray pebble on the sidewalk. "Dedication and talent are different."

"But dedication with talent is unstoppable," the doctor murmured.

Dr. Benjamin had much more faith in her than she did in herself, or perhaps than anyone else ever had. Had her parents ever bothered to read anything she'd written beyond her first piece? Though Edwin and Christina encouraged her, neither of them had read her work, so their praise was empty.

"Perhaps, if you'd be willing," Corrie murmured, withdrawing her journal as they walked, "I could give you one of my shorter pieces and you could give me your opinion?"

They paused in front of a shop selling flowers, the fragrant scent assaulting their senses. Corrie flipped through the journal to the page with the poem she had written after her picnic with Christina, Hannah, and Jack. The poem was light hearted and sweet, and Corrie had been pleased with the imagery. She was afraid to give the doctor one of her more sober works for fear of sullying his image of her, but perhaps if he was just as well as kind in his assessment of this work, she would allow him to read more. Pressing her fingers carefully along the spine, Corrie tore out the page and proferred it to the doctor, the parchment undulating in the breeze. Offering him her poetry felt much like offering a piece of her heart.

The soft smile Dr. Benjamin gave her as he accepted the page assured her that he understood the significance of the gesture. "I'll give it my full attention."

Corrie hesitated to release the paper. "Just...be kind?"

Dr. Benjamin's eyes sparkled with merriment. "I promise. Perhaps I can promote your future career as a poet."

"With the war going on, I can't speak to the likelihood of my having any career outside of Irvington."

Dr. Benjamin's eyes seemed to skim the distance as they approached the general store where Corrie planned to purchase her journal. "I suppose many futures will be waylaid by the war."

Corrie felt the sting of his rebuke; who was she to complain about her fate when men were dying, women losing husbands and suitors, children losing fathers?

"I'm sorry, I...I didn't mean to sound so narcissistic," she murmured, mortified.

"Oh, Miss Walker, I didn't mean to imply--you're not selfish at all. You're putting your life on hold for your sister." Dr. Benjamin sighed as they stood outside the store. "All I meant was that the war alters everything."

Corrie nodded in agreement, her eyes scanning the posters on the windows of the store calling for women to take over men's jobs and encouraging men to sign up for the draft and join the armed forces.

Under his breath, Dr. Benjamin added, "I fear that none of us will escape unscathed."

~~~~~

Aren't Dr. B and Corrie the most precious people alive? I can't handle their cuteness. Unfortunately, things won't always be smooth sailing. There's much more drama to come!

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~ Hannah