And then there is light. A silent concussion of it, so sudden and so bright it’s like fingernails jabbed into my eyes. I hear myself gasp as I flinch back. Both hands come up reflexively before I can stop them, and I rap myself in the forehead with the clip of my H & K. The pain in my eyes is so bad I want to whimper. I slump back against the door, sliding to the floor. Nothing I can do, nothing at all. Just wait for the bullet to take away the pain in my eyes. Even with my eyelids shut and hands over them, the light’s so bright I can still see it.