[network] @ADMIN; Arrival

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Comments

[private]

[nursetemple]

[She nods.]

I feel I'm going to miss confession soon enough. From what I understand, this place can bring the darkest in people to the outside.

[private]

[devoutish]

You're religious? Catholic?

[private]

[nursetemple]

Yes. Hispanic mother, you see. Mass every Sunday, Sunday school, confession every week by the time I hit puberty, the works.

[private]

[devoutish]

[Alfie knows nothing about Hispanic culture, oops.]

Mm. It's important to you?

[private]

[nursetemple]

It was more important when I was younger, but yes. It is.

[private]

[devoutish]

Why did that change as you grew up?

[private]

[nursetemple]

The usual, I believe. Life knocks you down, and you feel like God isn't actually listening to you anymore. Especially as a teenager, when you're at your most selfish.

[private]

[devoutish]

And you still feel that way now?

[private]

[nursetemple]

I don't believe I have a direct line to Him, but I think He's here. I pray. I go to church when I can. It's - it's a comfort.

[private]

[devoutish]

You don't have to feel like you've got a direct line for it to be important.

[private]

[nursetemple]

Which is what I've discovered with age. The kind of thing that came to me with the job, and the experience, and celebrating being 30.

[private]

[devoutish]

It's the community, for me. My family, my neighborhood. The longest I've ever been away from all that was when I was off at war.

[private]

[nursetemple]

You must miss them immensely.

[private]

[devoutish]

Have you got family, back home?

[private]

[nursetemple]

Most have moved away to Florida. My sister's still around, though, and the community. My building's tenants, we look after each other, you know?

[private]

[devoutish]

What's in Florida?

[private]

[nursetemple]

Heat, sunshine, vitamin D. It's close to home - that's Puerto Rico, for my mom. It's a good place to retire.

[private]

[devoutish]

Retiring to Puerto Rico isn't an option?

[private]

[nursetemple]

It doesn't have the same perks as living in the US does. Being in Florida makes her halfway between her daughters and the homeland. It's a good middle ground, isn't it?

[private]

[devoutish]

Mm.

My mother's homeland is Russia. She wouldn't go back either.

[So he gets it.]

[private]

[nursetemple]

Some things never change. Even in the 21st century, Russia is a...difficult country.

Were you born and bred in London?

[private]

[devoutish]

I was, yeah. My father grew up here in Camden Town, and he's never lived anywhere else. Neither have I. And I don't plan to, as long as England keeps being a good place for us.

[private]

[nursetemple]

I'd like to visit London. I've never been to Europe, never had to chance yet. You don't make that much money as a nurse.

[private]

[devoutish]

Well - I can't tell you much about what it's like in your time, and you'll never see it in mine. I hear they keep the canals.

[private]

[nursetemple]

[And she can imagine that, back then, much of his trade must have used the canals.]

Ever been out of London much? Travel Europe, maybe?