There had been three earthquakes that day, each one worse than the last. The first had shaken the ground enough to cause concern.

The second had left cracks in the walls and shattered glass everywhere. But it was the third that brought the real danger.

By then, the 118 was helping the 122 evacuate an office building that was barely holding together.

You and Buck were near the entrance, guiding the injured toward a medical tent where EMTs and paramedics worked quickly to treat wounds.

The air was thick with dust and tension, but there was no time to slow down.

You had just stepped back into the lobby to do one final check when the 8.5 hit.

The ground roared as the building gave way. Buck’s eyes met yours, full of fear, just before everything collapsed around you.