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The sun beats down on us as we step into the light, blessed relief washing over me.
I pause for a moment to catch my breath.
"Let's rest here," Diana says, her voice gentle yet firm as she takes note of my pain.
She sets down the bag and draws out some food rations and water bottles for us both to share.
We sit side by side in the grass beneath the warm sunlight, eating in silence.
My body aches and throes with every movement but it's manageable now that we've reached safety momentarily.
The sun starts to dip beneath the horizon, casting golden light through the trees.
I lie back against a fallen tree trunk in the corner of the meadow.
I settle down on it and sink into its rough bark, allowing myself some much-needed rest.
Diana follows suit, her head resting against my shoulder as we wait to catch our breath.
I take this opportunity to raise my t-shirt and inspect my abdominal gunshot wound, shot an hour ago.
The bullet had barely grazed me but still managed to draw blood.
Pulling away the edges of fabric from my shirt, I survey around the wound area with grim intensity as if looking for something that isn't there.
A quiet groan escapes from behind clenched teeth as I probe further; the bullet had caused more damage than I'd initially thought.
The flesh surrounding the wound is hot and inflamed, red streaks radiating outwards coupled with a dull throbbing sensation engulfing my entire side.
It's infected.
"Diana," I say, "can you please open the first aid kit?"
But she doesn't respond. I look at her, and she's ashen-white, staring at my wound.
I feel terrible.
Of course, she's never seen a gunshot wound before.
"It's okay," I reassure her, my voice soothing.
"I just need to clean it and apply some antibiotics."
With shaking hands, she retrieves the first aid kit and begins to rummage through it.
She begins to hand me things. "Diana," I say again, gently.
"I...I might need help with the cleaning and dressing. You see, if I try to do it myself, I might miss a spot or something."
"I've never done this before," she says, with a trembling voice.
"I don't even know how to. Please, Anthony. Can't we just find a doctor?"
I shake my head, trying to conjure up a smile to reassure her.
"We can't risk it. We're on the run. It's just us out here."
She nods uncertainly, biting her lip.
