1. Alone in a quiet room. It's quiet, but there are sounds… But I am not really alone, I just feel alone. It is another shift at the Firehouse and the others are sleeping. I am the only one awake. Three of my colleagues are sleeping in the bunkroom with me, one mumbles something unintelligible, and the others are breathing quietly. I am just tossing and turning. This is my least favorite part of the shift. Lying here somewhere between sleep and wake. My mind goes on a thousand tangents without the direction or focus of complete consciousness. Waiting. Anticipation. Any minute now. Any second now. Yup…there it is. Lights come on and the tone goes off and a soft female voice comes over the intercom. What will it be? Fire or ambulance call? The hard part for me is the wondering what will be the next call. Will it be bad? What will I see? Will I be able to do my job? Is this going to be one of those calls that keeps me awake at night, recollecting, for the rest of my life. I am able to focus back on the soothing female voice. In her calm, collected voice she gives the address. I know where that address is and I know the fastest way to get there. Not that serious, someone has had one or two too many and gravity is getting the better of them. Get dressed, out the door and down to the engine, fast as we can. Our work done and we are back at the station in half an hour. We all head for the bunkroom because it’s too late to stay up and too early to get up. I never really sleep while I am here, just doze. One of the others is softly snoring, his head only hit the pillow two or three minutes ago. Man, I wish I could fall asleep like that. He is blessed with that ability. I am doomed to toss and turn and contemplate until my brain literally shuts down.