Chapter 11 Chapter 11 Though our demanding work left little time for each other .
Most of our encounters occurred in conflict zones hed be rushing to treat the wounded while I fought to save lives in the operating room .
Often , a brief touch as we passed was all we could share .
The unreliable network coverage didnt help .
Days would pass without contact , then suddenly my phone would buzz incessantly with an avalanche of messages .
They arrived jumbled and chaotic , as if they too had navigated through gunfire and devastation , yet each carried the weight of longing and unwavering devotion .
The situation in East Meridian Province deteriorated rapidly .
Our first serious argument erupted when a village near Meridia came under attack .
We arrived while the militants were still active , with security forces engaged in ongoing firefights .
We were rushing back to evacuate when Joseph suddenly leaped from the ambulance .
At the battlefields edge lay a fallen villager .
Joseph hoisted the man onto his back and carried him to safety , his own body lacerated by shrapnel .
Terror and fury coursed through me .
Are you trying to get yourself killed ? He stood firm .
Im a doctor ! I couldnt leave him there ! His leg injury was survivable if I hadnt acted , he would have died for certain ! I knew he was right .
I knew it was his duty .
But when he returned drenched in blood so much I couldnt distinguish his from the victims my composure shattered .
After confirming with trembling hands that his wounds were superficial , I broke down , clinging to him as I sobbed .
Joseph ! I cant lose anyone else ! If something happened to you , what would I do ? He held me in silence before wrapping his arms around me , his voice raw .
Im sorry … I promise to be more careful .
No more unnecessary risks .
No more making you worry .
Still crying , I pressed my face against his chest .
You have to promise ! Lets make it official , he said , extending his pinky .
Pinky swear whoever breaks it turns into a puppy ! I couldnt help but laugh through my tears .
If you really turned into a puppy , how would I introduce 17:43 Backup Girl No More : Adios To My V Card and My First Love 23.4 % Chapter 11 you to my mother ? Your puppy boyfriend ? he teased with a grin .
I hurled a pillow at him in exasperation .
He played dead , lying motionless until I frantically pulled the pillow away to find his face unmarked , wearing that sly smile .
His expression seemed to say : See ? Im not so easy to break .
I glared until my vision blurred with fresh tears .
In that moment , I realized how precious each day with Joseph truly was .
As the conflict intensified , Ebola began its merciless sweep through this already ravaged land .
By spring , Josephs schedule grew even more demanding .
With medical staff severely depleted , he shuttled between refugee camps and the Ebola treatment center .
When armed groups launched surprise attacks on treatment centers across several cities , many doctors were forced to evacuate .
But Joseph refused to leave .

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While Meridia remained relatively stable , nearly a hundred patients lay in the center .
Abandoning them meant leaving them to die in their beds .
Joseph and four other doctors chose to stay and adapt as events unfolded .
But the situation deteriorated rapidly .
Armed groups seized the outskirts of Meridia , cutting off all escape routes .
We were trapped .
Amid this tension , Joseph suddenly messaged me to come to the treatment center .
He offered no explanation , but dread settled in my stomach .
After donning protective gear , we entered the medical waste disposal area .
In a hastily cleared room , I found a group of Huronai children more than ten of them .
They had fled from the mountains , the eldest no more than twelve .
Their clothes hung in tatters , their bodies riddled with infected wounds .
I could hardly believe my eyes .
The armed groups controlling the outskirts were Tusari , locked in a generations old blood feud with the Huronais .
If these children were discovered , not only would they face certain death , but the entire treatment center could be destroyed .
Overwhelmed , I shouted at Joseph : Have you lost your mind ? What about the principles of Doctors Without Borders ? He wasnt supposed to involve himself directly in the conflict .
Only through neutrality could he help the most people .
17:43 Rackun Girl No More : Adios To My Y Card and My First Love 23.7 % Chapter 11 He hung his head , speaking softly .
I know its dangerous .
Thats why I need your help finding an organization that can shelter these children .
How will you get them past the patrols ? I asked , nearly despairing .
Josephs words tumbled out rapidly : Theyre small enough to hide in protective suits inside medical waste bins .
The disposal trucks come every three days , and no one inspects those bins .
If someones waiting to receive them on the other side , we can save their lives ! The audacity of his plan left me speechless .
He clenched his fists , his voice filled with conviction : Zoey , I am a human being first , a doctor second , and a member of Doctors Without Borders last .
I cannot stand by and watch these children be thrown away to die !