I could feel a hand clench mine like a vice, “I’m going to need you to hold on.” I could hear the distant roar of an engine as sirens whirled. My eyes wouldn’t open— only brief splotches of orange and red would cross my sight as a globe of light came and went.

“He’s losing a lot of blood. We need to transfer him to triage,” the voice said again. My body felt like a glacier set aside for safe keeping.