The backstory is, the stories in the book were of my first ten years in EMS, and yes, I was an arrogant and egotistical little snot back then, although never intentionally. I did have the luxury of having a great deal of trust granted to me by my medical director and bosses back then. Some of that trust and freedom shaped me into the medic I could be one day...
... and some of that gave me enough rope to almost hang myself.
It simply took a few years for my skills to catch up to my ego.
The last story was told as a flashback, fifteen years into my EMS career, about a call around year five. Those of you who have read it can probably spot the change in perspective.
Also, keep in mind that I was a fledgling writer going through an unexpected separation, and writing the book late at night sitting in the right seat of an ambulance, literally trying to keep myself from losing my mind. When circumstances have knocked you to your knees and you're questioning everything you thought to be true in your life, your mind tends to gravitate to the memories where you thought you were in control and on top of your game, because in the present moment, you are anything but.
Both my writing and my attitude have matured a lot since.