Damon’s final words “The sound of his attack helicopters is already on the wind”, didn’t break me; they solidified me. The pain of the contraction was sharp, but the fear was replaced by a singular, cold clarity: Vladimir is here. That means I have minutes, not hours. I cannot sign. I must not allow him to execute his escape plan, not when my husband is risking everything a mile away.

I fought the searing pain, focusing on the metallic pen still resting on the contract. If I sign, I ...