Chapter 17: Girls' Talk

Nelly’s mouth hung open for a few seconds before snapping close. Then, she opened her mouth in an attempt to say something. Her eyes darted around the surface of the table, trying to figure out where they should land.

Suddenly, Stacy laughed out loud. Nelly’s confused expression deepened. “Why are you so surprised? I’m merely stating the fact,” still laughing, Stacy teased. Nelly smiled sheepishly. Her fingers found their way to her braids. “I.. I’ve never thought that way.”

“Have you ever fought for something you wanted badly?” The question sounded light coming from Stacy but it left a deep impression in Nelly’s heart. She tried thinking back to her life. “I..” she tried saying something but it never left her mouth. Stacy lifted her attention to Nelly. “Relax! I understand. Sometimes, you never really have a choice. That’s the way of life,” she smiled bitterly.

“I’ve never questioned anything. I went with the flow and did what the elders asked of me,” Nelly said, still looking slightly shocked. “What’s that like? Do you like what they asked you to do? Or you merely followed their orders because you didn’t have a choice?” Stacy questioned further.

Nelly shook her head. “I’m not sure. I thought that’s the way things are. I did what I was told.” Stacy was quiet as she studied Nelly. “What happens when you disobey?” Stacy’s curiosity flared. Nelly shook her head again. “I don’t know,” her answer surprised Stacy. “You mean, you’ve never broken a rule?”

“There’s no rule. At least, none that I know of,” Nelly explained. “That’s.. interesting?” Stacy didn’t know what to say. “Anyway, what I was saying is, you can try to voice out your thoughts. Tell your brother, or if you think he won’t listen, tell Chad. Look what happened today. If you weren’t here, I’m not sure how many of those two patients will still be breathing right now. I’m sure they had already realized the importance of having a doctor in the clubhouse. Use this point to negotiate. I’m sure if you’re adamant, there’s no reason for them to deny this win-win deal,” Stacy encouraged.

Looking at Nelly’s expression, she was worried for her. “It’s like how you asked to stay here just now, just a little bit more confident,” Stacy explained. Nelly nodded slowly. “It’s just a suggestion. Think about it,” Stacy said as she went back to her work.

“My brother worries a lot about me. He once told me that the clubhouse is a very dangerous place. I don’t think he will agree,” Nelly said after a moment of silence. “Why do you think he worries so much?” Stacy probed. “I think it’s because.. it’s his personality?” Nelly tried her best to come up with an answer.

“Well.. let’s give him one less reason to worry,” Stacy smiled with determination. “How?” Nelly’s round eyes zeroed in on Stacy. “Show him that you can protect yourself,” Stacy explained. “Do you know how to fight?”

Her question once again left Nelly speechless. “No, I don’t,” she said meekly. “Fighting is bad. Many people ended up unconscious in the medical center after a fight,” Nelly said. Stacy bit her tongue, trying not to laugh. ‘Fighting is bad’? She sounded naive.

“Cutting a person open with a knife, tempering with their organs and stitching them up is bad, too,” Stacy countered. “Yes, you’re right..” Nelly mumbled. “Yet, you still do it,” Stacy pushed. “I do it to save patients,” Nelly countered. “Hmm.. interesting. You can fight to save yourself and the person you hold dear, too. Don’t you agree?”

The warehouse was quiet. Stacy’s point hung in the air.

“Girls can’t fight,” Nelly said. The words echoed. They’re familiarly annoying. Those words, they were something both of them had been hearing their whole life.

“Girls can’t practice medicine. Girls can’t step into the Reaper’s territory. Girls can’t talk. Girls can’t show themselves in front of men. Why do you do them?” Stacy shot back.

Nelly was taken aback by her sarcasm. She opened and closed her mouth, trying to reply but failed miserably. Stacy suddenly felt the urge to get her point across. “Listen, Nelly. Those are stupid rules men made without consulting women. It’s enough that men say them. Don’t echo their ideology and trap yourself in them,” Stacy said. Nelly had never seen her so serious.

Nelly nodded slowly. “I think you are right,” she said after a while. Stacy gave her a crooked smile. “I know I am,” she exclaimed proudly.

“I remembered my mom saying something like that when she asked me to learn medicine from my mentor. I can’t recall her exact words but she said something about women needing something to protect ourselves,” Nelly said.

“She sounds like a wise woman,” Stacy praised. Nelly’s smile widened. She nodded vigorously. “She is. She’s the strongest woman I’ve ever known. She had to raise me alone after divorce. Alone in the big city, she worked many part time jobs to pay for rent and daily expenses.”

Stacy nodded. Her mind drifted to her own mother. She was once that strong, independent woman trying to survive in a big city with a daughter – until they were hunted and brought back to that place. Her fists tightened. ‘Just you wait, Hank. Your life is what I want,’ Stacy‘s hatred burned strong.

“Did I say something wrong?” Nelly’s worried query pulled her back to the present. “No, of course not,” she adjusted herself quickly. “I miss her,” Nelly said. Stacy realized there was more to the story. “What happened? I’m sure you didn’t leave her in the city just to come to this broken town full of crazy men killing each other for fun.”

Nelly shook her head. “She was knocked down by a car on her way back from work. It was drunk driving, a hit and run. There wasn’t anyone on the street. Some passerby found her the next morning. It was too late.” A tear rolled down her cheek. “I’m sorry for your loss,” Stacy said in a small voice.

“She was the only family I knew,” she sniffed, “the authorities found out that my parents were separated years ago. It so happened that my brother who went with dad is already of age. They contacted him and here I am.” She laughed at the end of her sentence.

Stacy smiled bitterly. “It sucks, isn’t it?” Nelly nodded.

“Remember this feeling,” Stacy said. “What?” Nelly was back to being confused. “Let’s grab a drink!”