“I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but as you heard it has been decided that we draw straws to see who stays behind,” he said, before lowering his voice. “Nurses included.”

Lilly gasped beside her, and one of the other nurses sobbed loudly. Cate just wound her arms tightly around herself again, waiting, trying to calm her breathing.

“Those of us who stay behind will do what we’ve always done, and that is to carry on as before. We shall ease the pain of the dying and do what we can for those we can save.” His eyes shone with tears. “I’m sorry. I’m truly sorry.”

Cate found herself nodding, even as her teeth chattered and her fingers inched tighter around her body. There would be no last-minute change of heart; some of them would be staying. Their fate had well and truly been decided for them.

She watched as he fumbled for a splint, usually used for broken bones, and she listened as he snapped part of it into small lengths.

This is actually happening. We’re being left behind.

The doctors went first, and they all stood in quiet solidarity as they picked their lengths. Two of the doctors were ashen-faced as they held the small sticks, and Cate’s stomach suddenly twisted into knots as she watched relief on the faces of some and terror in others.

Then Doctor Connor moved to the orderlies, and the same process was followed, until it was finally time for the nurses.

“Let’s make this quick, ladies,” Doctor Connor said, and Cate smiled at him as he wiped tears from his eyes. He was old enough to be her father, and she wondered if his daughters were a similar age to them, if that was why he was so upset about any of his nurses being left behind. “Only one of you has to stay, orders be damned. I want the rest of you to have the best chance of getting out of here.”

“I’ll go first,” Cate said bravely, stepping forward, wanting to get her turn over and done with.

Her hand shook as she reached, pulling out a stick, her breathing ragged as she slowly looked down at it.

No.

Oh my God, no!

She stared at the short, stubby stick, at the doctor’s palm as he slowly opened it to show her that all the rest were long.

“Cate, I’m so sorry,” he said.

She heard someone speak, but suddenly there was a loud whooshing sound in her ears, like the ocean roaring right beside her, the waves crashing into her eardrums. Blood rushed to her head and she swayed as the reality of her luck hit hard. Not the first stick. The first couldn’t be the shortest!

It’s me. I’m the one who has to stay behind.

Suddenly all she wanted to do was run.