rid

eal. Alonso took the worst of it. I knew that before anyone told me, because when the world finally stopped spinn

was pressed against the black fabric of his shirt, and beneath it, his heartb

s thundered dow

uted, his voice raw wi

e back of my head, as if even after the fall, some instinct in him

d, low and strai

ted m

temple, and blood tracked from a cut along his cheekbone. His eyes, though, were

you h

ound the words. I shook my head once. Then

d to my hand. H

s not n

of stairs," I whispered.

ath left him. "Better

t me harder

d gripping the railing, his injured side clearly hurting him. He looked like he should still b

o snapped at Alonso. "You

ok away from me.

oticed th

as being forced to the ground. I heard the impact, the shouted commands, the u

and terribly, that I wa

ist. Alonso's hand moved as if to steady me, then stopped before touching my waist.

on my knees, emba

I said. "I di

gizing for

han before, but not at

in his eyes. His shoulder shifted wrong beneath his shirt. I knew it instantly. Dislocation. His back had taken

a doctor

N

n't a sug

e, dark and unreadable.

oor below, ducking under a soldier's arm with the desperat

tri

, grabbing my face between both hands.

ed you. Are you bleeding? You're bleedin

y, I'm

ake doctor with a gun." Her voice cracked, then sharpened into

back at

ady risen t

rough the side of his shirt. Still, he stood with the same cold composure, as if pain was an inconveni

with exhausted fury. "Y

r she

eding throug

k somewhe

. "Men are so stupid. All of

umstances, I mig

onso noticed that too. He took one step toward me, t

ing flicker in his expression th

f her," he s

he plan, Mr. Broodi

narrowed

vival instinct, glared right back. "What? You saved her lif

her to stop. I didn

ribs and pupils and asked me the same questions until my answers began to sound mechanical. I kept looking toward the door, expecting

ns along his arm, hip, and thigh. He refused admission. He refused pain medication stronger than necessary. He let them

Alons

urse

covered my shift. That night, my

rs off my life. Rest, or I will personall

ssage for a long t

nk

d over the scre

so

came almost

ain and I'll

myself, then se

ad. My mother brought me soup and asked too many questions I couldn't answer. She wanted to know why military personnel h

as little a

e situation. Some people looked at me with sympathy. Others looked at me like I had become part o

called me int

hat was a brave thing you did, identif

k you

ine you for getting taken hostage, if that's what you'

erst

eeling the weight of everyone's stares. They all knew. They al

the parking lot that

on

unreadable in the fading light. He looked paler than before, the hard line of

several

d be resti

hould

tairwell. You used you

then to the bandage at my w

direct. It slipped beneath my

lit

his express

o that,"

wh

want to punis

n us. Then his mouth moved almost

were not my

afraid of that answ