He paused.
“We were trying to get everyone to safety. I went back for him.”
“Alone?”
“Not entirely. Another soldier helped me, but we were separated from the others for part of it.”
“What happened to your knee?”
“An impact during the evacuation. I don’t remember every second clearly. I remember the pain. I remember Daniel telling me not to be stupid.”
Despite himself, Cole smiled faintly.
“He was always telling me not to be stupid.”
“Did you get him out?”
Cole lowered his eyes.
“Yes.”
Raymond waited.
“But he died later,” Cole continued. “The medical team did everything they could. I kept thinking that if I’d moved faster, if I’d done something differently, maybe—”
He stopped.
Raymond leaned forward.
“You were injured. You were trying to save him. You don’t get to rewrite the whole event around what you wish you’d been able to do.”
Cole swallowed.
“I know that in my head.”
