Captain Ford hobbled down the hallway of the police station. Swinging one leg cast and one crutch, bandages all over his face and arms. Even when he bumped into several other officers, he gave neither an apology nor rude remark. His face so neutral, he wasn’t in the mood to say anything at all. On his way towards his office, he walked past a room. A side glance and he moved on...only to hobble backwards.

The room had many tables, all lined up in neat order. Each were covered in a blue velvet cloth, arranged with golden tassels across the bottom. Clean, smooth, preserved.

Black and White photos sat across the table in long rows and columns. They were all held in a dark wooden frame, standing at attention. Men and women in their full police regalia and polished cap. National flags rested in front of their frames, neatly folded into perfect triangles. Sitting on top of the banner were mementos: pieces of their badge with some of their numbers missing; SWAT helmets broke into three pieces; family photos half burnt; there were even a couple of baby socks, singed and frayed.

Captain Ford stared. It was all he could do.

He moved on his crutch in a weak step, his eyes unable to turn away from all the black and white. He wanted to speak, to say something to each photo. The lips could only move up and down, mute. The Adam’s apple in his throat bobbing up and down, so confused.

Someone then entered the room.

Lt. Wong, wrapped with bandages and medical patches, strode in and froze when he spotted the captain. A dry swallow and he hefted a collection of fresh white Lilies in his arms. With soft steps he approached the table, starting from the end. One by one, he laid the lilies out in front of each Black and White photo, next to their flag and physical pieces of their memory.

Halfway, he came across Captain Ford. The two ended up looking at each other in the eyes, worn out by too many things. Both men inhaled, to say something. Lt. Wong gestured for Ford to speak, the latter looked around and shrugged for the lieutenant to speak.

“..."

“...”

Lt. Wong waited a few more seconds...before he responded with a pat on the captain’s back. He moved on, but Ford stopped him with a hand on his chest. Then he held out his palm to Lt. Wong, towards the Lilies.

The lieutenant gave the captain a look over, specifically the one leg in a cast and the hospital crutch. He tried to walk past the injured to cut him some slack.

Ford just shoved his superior officer back to step one, gesturing an open hand again. Firm, determined.

Lt. Wong pursed his lips, and gave Captain Ford several clusters of white lilies. Together, they walked and hobbled to each table to place their respect to the black and white photos.

       Ring-Ring. Ring-Ring.

Captain Ford rolled his eyes in a mute groan. He finished placing one more Lily to the table before he fumbled to grab his phone out. The man listened with a tired expression...then he ended the call with a grim expression. He gave the table a light tap with his knuckle. It got Lt. Wong’s attention, but by the time he turned about Captain Ford was staring at all the photos.

The captain took in a deep breath, holding up his phone for all the black and white images to see.

“Found them.”