A uniformed officer appears in the doorway, weapon raised, and scanning the back end of the rig quickly. His eyes land on me. Then flick to the body on the floor. Then back to me.
There’s a moment, a long one, then his posture shifts, softening some at the knowledge that the threat is down.
“You’re okay,” he tells me, voice steady. “You’re safe now.” Safe. The word feels foreign.
My voice comes out rough. “He’s…”
“I see him,” the officer says quickly, glancing down again. “We’ve got it from here.”
Another officer appears behind him, peering in.
“Scene’s secure,” he adds.
“You can come out,” the first officer states gently.
I don’t move.
My legs feel like they don’t belong to me. My hands are still shaking. My chest is tight, like I forgot how to breathe properly.
“Ma’am,” he tries again, softer now. “Let’s get you out of there.”
I nod. At least, I think I do. It takes effort to move at all, even more to push myself up off the bench. My muscles protest like I’ve run a marathon.
I step carefully around the body. Don’t look down. Don’t…
I look anyway.
His eyes are still open, frozen, and wide.
I turn away fast and step out of the ambulance. The night hits me all at once. Lights and voices, movement everywhere. Police. More EMTs have arrived. The street is littered with vehicles making the area seem alive.
And then I see him.
Alex.
Relief hits so hard it almost knocks me off my feet. He’s standing near one of the squad cars, another officer right up against his back.
Alive. Alex is alive.
Then I see the blood.
My stomach drops.
He’s holding his shoulder, his shirt dark and soaked through. No. No, no.
“Alex!”
I’m moving before I realize it, pushing past an officer, ignoring someone calling after me. My legs feel unsteady, but I don’t slow down. I won’t stop.
He’s bleeding.
Alex is bleeding.
He turns at the sound of my voice. And for a second, just a second, everything else disappears.
He looks at me like I’m the only thing in the world.
“Hey,” he breathes out, like this is normal. Like he’s not bleeding through his shirt.
