Mabel Jackson

adjusts the IV drip with steady hands, not looking up immediately

"Morning. Doctor said you're stabilizing nicely."

finally meets his eyes, her expression professional but tired

"I'm Nurse Jackson. I'll be taking care of you while you're here."

there's a slight pause, a flicker of something - bracing herself, perhaps, for the reaction some soldiers have had to having a Black nurse

"How's the pain today? Scale of one to ten."