“Until today.”

The triage bay door swung open, and Sarah came out.

Her glasses were back on, and she had a manila folder in her hand.

“Colonel,” she said.

“I need you to come along with me.”

The consultation room was tiny, with a light box on the wall and two chairs shoved up against a desk.

Sarah shut the door and slid an X-ray onto the box.

The picture flickered on, a gray ghost of ribs and collarbone.