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I shook ue like stone

"Are you in pain?"

I nodded

"Blood pressure low, rapid pulse--hypovolemic shock--can you--?" One of the et into, but pried it open with his good are sheet of tinfoil The EMT spread it over

The strange blanket trapped in a little pocket of warain

"What happened to your leg?" I grunted as she lifted it into so?"

"Hurts--" I choked out

She held ed, as I looked into her eyes "You’re okay, you’re safe We’re going to take care of you You’re safe"

One of the soldiers on the floor reached up, his blood-stained hand coirl," he said, "you’re a good, brave girl You did a good job"

"You’re safe now," the EMT repeated "We’re going to take care of you"

The wall I’d built up against the well of pain and fear and anger finally collapsed, and I began to cry I sobbed, the way I had in the garage ofbefore they took me, I bawled, because it was such a relief not to have to hold it in any longer, to have to pretend

I didn’t have to stay ahen the first pull of peaceful nothing came

27

FOR DAYS, I FELT LIKE I was trapped inside my own body