It's been a long road...

Posted on 29 Nov 2021 @ 10:15am by Petty Officer 1st Class Ember Locksley

566 words; about a 3 minute read

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"When people say 'doctors make the worst patients', it really isn't a cliché..."

Ember Locksley sighed as she shook her head, sipping the Moroccan mint tea carefully. She was half curled up in her desk chair, a leg pulled up close. She was in casual clothes rather than a uniform...because she hadn't been allowed back to duty for the past months. Her dark red hair was tied carelessly in a loose loop over her left shoulder. Her naturally pale skin was perhaps a touch paler than usual with the strain of recovery.

"It's taken three months of treatment, therapy and rest, but I'm finally free of that walking stick that was keeping me propped up while I was on my feet. I considered burning it in a Jal'hir victory ritual, but I thought I might end up in the brig for arson."

Ember paused for a long moment, settling her thoughts as she sipped at the steaming hot, comforting tea.

"I know that I shouldn't complain. I know I was one of the lucky ones from the Trial," she frowned at the words, looking away from the screen that was recording her log, distant with it. "But it really has been hard. I'm not sure whether it was the extent of my injuries or the fact that they wouldn't let me work that was the worst part. Probably the latter. And being cooped up in here..."

The doctor looked around her quarters with a tsk. As ships went, they were fine enough. But for a woman used to exploring the galaxy on foot, one destination at a time, it had been tough being shut up in a set of quarters like an invalid for three whole months.

"Stir crazy doesn't even come close," she chuckled despite the words, no bitterness in her voice. It wasn't in her nature. She closed her eyes and tipped her head back with a small smile. "Damn it all, but I miss the smell of blossom on a spring breeze...the feel of warm tropical rain on my skin..." she ran a hand up her cheek and over her hair, as if she could feel it, sighing softly with the slight pang of longing it triggered in her.

"Holodecks are nice, but they're not quite...perfect," she gave a small, half smile at that, looking back to the screen. "But that's good. If it were perfectly authentic, what drive would we have to go and experience the real thing? We'd all just be in our own little...boxes."

She glanced around her quarters with a soft chuckle, shaking her head. "A bit like this one I suppose. I've been here three months, but have yet to really meet anyone beyond the doctor who has been treating me."

Ember straightened up with those words, arching an eyebrow with a warmer smile, setting her cup down. "But not for much longer. I'm likely the only one on this ship that would rather forfeit shoreleave and get to work, but I've been out of Sickbay for too long. At least, I haven't been in it for the right reasons. Now, all that stands between me and getting back to my work is a couple of weeks of R&R on a science station. My idea of, well, not quite heaven, but the closest you can get up here in the stars."

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