Chapter 85
Nick
During my senior year of high school, we had to take British Literature, which was my least favorite class in my entire education.
However, near the end of the year, when we were studying modernism, my teacher had us read a long, strange poem, most of which I didn’t understand, and the name of which I don’t even remember—but I will always remember a line in the poem about how there will be time for all sorts of things in life, good and bad.
That line has stayed with me my entire life.
There is a time for all things.
A time to rest and a time to work.
A time to love and a time to hate.
A time to celebrate and a time to grieve.
Now is not the time to grieve.
If I were to dwell, for even a second, on the knowledge that I’ve just lost both Captain Hyun and Tristan, I would break. There would be nothing of me left except grief.
Right now, I can’t afford to grieve.
I must keep going, keep working.
My team needs me. The survivors of the earthquake need me. My family needs me.
I can only pray that they’re alive and safe.
I go to Mila, who has helped Callum to a spot where they’re keeping the other immobile victims, a sort of makeshift triage tent under a smoothie shop’s awning.
“Do we have a radio?” I ask. “I need to get in contact with the Battalion Chief.”