Aom helps the doctor clean his wound with alcohol, put medicine on it and cover it up with a bandage. When they’re almost done, the tall figure tries to get up, but struggle to do so.

“You probably can’t go back to the boat dock right now” Aom turns to tell Kimhan with a straight face before going back to finish helping the doctor.

“I’ll be ok, thank you for all your help” Kimhan said those word and it sound strange to Aom, probably because it’s not gentle and kind like always.

“Come on Doc, let’s go”

“Kimhan, I think we should stay here for the night because you shouldn’t move much in this condition. You already lose so much blood, if the wound ripped open, it would be worst” the doctor said it with concern.

“It’s only little wound, I’m ok!” Kimhan said while still trying to get up but slant side to side.

“Please don’t go tonight, you guys are too injure and it’s very late at night, the water in the river went down already, it would be hard to travel even by boat. Aom, please tell the doctor and Kimhan to rest here for me, I’ll go prepare the pillows and blankets for them”

Aom translates what her mom said with a stiff voice, her eyes only focus on the doctor without glaring at Kimhan.

Mrs.Orn brings out the pillows and blankets for the guests, set it up for them before excusing herself to her room.

Aom brings out white t-shirts for Kimhan and the doctor to change because Kimhan’s uniform was cut up and the doctor’s uniform is dusty.

The doctor and Aom help Kimhan to lay down, with all the chaos that happened and pain makes Kimhan tired and fall asleep right away.

“My injury isn’t that bad but Kimhan’s wound is so crucial” the doctor started talking to Aom as she’s still standing there waiting to see if they needed anything else.

“I know when you help me with Kimhan’s wound…you probably knows it already…” the doctor stares at Aom and continue talking, “that Kimhan is a girl…”

Aom shows no reaction and keep silent.

“You probably wonder why and how a girl becomes a soldier. Considering that Kimhan is a Fleet Admiral’s niece, it’s not hard to get into the army. But like told you before Kimhan is a good soldier, it’s not because of her being the Admiral’s niece alone that makes her this high rank soldier. She probably works harder than anyone I know to get it”

“But…why?”

“Well it’s started when Kimhan was born, her dad was a soldier and hoping for a son to continue the family legacy. When he found out that Kimhan is a girl, he can’t take it and that’s where everything start. He raise her as a boy, so nobody including the neighbors knows that she is a girl. She has to learn self-defense, how to use weapons and build her body to be strong. I know Kimhan since we were kids and I don’t know at first but since I’m her best friend, she told me. I thought it’s strange at first but got used to it over time. Deep down I don’t think Kimhan hates what she has to become, she’s a tomboy at heart”

“Why did you tell me all these?”

“Because you and your family know that Kimhan is a girl. This is a danger for Kimhan, if anyone including the troops know, Kimhan would be kill. Not only that, your whole family is in danger as well, so I would advise you not to say anything about it. I’m not trying to scare you but the Admiral is not a forgiving man, he would do anything to keep this a secret and I have to report that your family knows to him”

“What do you mean my family is in danger? I didn’t want to know about this!” Aom starts to get mad when her family is mention.

“I understand, I’m sorry that this happen…it’s unfortunate, but right now we have the same fate. It’s consider a disgrace for a girl to be a soldier, I don’t think so but I can’t change everybody else. If this gets out, we all would disappear…forever...From knowing you and your family, I know that you guys are good and kind people, so I’m asking you to keep this a secret. Let me remind you again, don’t mention that Kimhan is a girl to anyone and you and your family will be safe. Do I have your word?”

“Yes…” Aom answers shortly, still in shock of what she had heard.

It’s already very late when Aom walks into her room. She opens the curtain of the window that face the river. She looks out the window at the Mangrove Apple Tree with groups of fireflies around it and wonder what that someone is doing right now in the far away place. At this moment, she has to fight this burden alone and her enemy that cause the problem is sleeping comfortably at her house. Aom touches the Thai Dulcimer that is sitting on a desk close by, as she touches it and it makes a soft sound. Aom stop suddenly, she would play this every time she misses that someone but now the sound remind her of a certain instrument’s sound that sometime come down the river from the boat dock.

The weather is pretty cold in the morning, when Aom opens the door from her room, she saw a chubby figure of someone standing up.

“You wake up so early Doctor”

“I didn’t get much sleep, Kimhan has a fever all night. I have to go back to the boat dock and get the medicine”

“Alright, but are you sure you’ll be ok?”

“I’m sure, thank you, but can you take care of Kimhan for me while I’m gone”

“Sure”

The doctor leave in a hurry, Aom heard the sound of the injured person groan a little while sleeping on the side of her body. So Aom walks over to Kimhan and see how she’s doing. Kimhan is probably uncomfortable because she’s in that same position all night. Aom roll up a blanket that is laying close by, and put it against Kimhan’s back as support, so she would be more comfortable. This make Kimhan suddenly open her eyes and lift her head up, she is startle because of the instinct of a soldier. The tall figure’s eyes is all red and when she realize where she is, she drop her head back down to the pillow again. The petite girl back away from Kimhan quickly.

“It’s morning? Where is the doctor?”

“He went back to the boat dock to get some medicine, he’ll be back soon”

“Why didn’t he wait so we can go back together” Kimhan complained

“You had a fever all night, he didn’t get a chance to sleep”

“I was too lucky, this may disappoint some people”<