Refused to Save My Brother

Summary

A bullet had torn through my brother’s heart on his last peacekeeping tour. A ruptured artery. Massive bleeding. He had three hours to live, tops.

But as they wheeled him into the OR, I was calmly watering my plants.

A minute later, the door to my office flew open, kicked in by my wife, Lena. Her voice was a blade. "That's your brother in there, Elias! Are you just going to let him die? How can you even wear that uniform?"

I knew, with cold certainty, that I was the only surgeon who could save him.

I just murmured, "Oh," and continued tending to my flowers.