It's something he thinks about every day.
"I have dreams about it sometimes at night," Cortez said.
Cortez is now bound to a wheelchair after he was shot while responding to a robbery call in his own neighborhood back in February.
That call changed his life forever. Cortez had severe injuries to the hip, neck and his spinal cord.
Everything we know about Officer Ronny Cortez
Officer Ronny Cortez was one of two HPD officers that were wounded
Eight months later, he's undergoing therapy for three hours every day.
"I'm healing up as best as I can right now going to therapy," Cortez says. "Were going to start looking for more activation the legs and sooner or later, I'll be walking."
Officer Cortez cringes when he hears about other officer-involved shootings, like the one from Sunday night involving Precinct 4 Deputy Constable Justin Gay.
Investigators identify man who shot Pct. 4 deputy
Deputy shot multiple times
"Don't like to hear of that happening. Unfortunately in today's world they're becoming more common. It's getting crazy out there," Cortez said.
Gay was responding to a domestic disturbance when investigators say 38-year-old Constatine Argyiou shot Gay in the legs six times.
The deputy has already had surgery. Now he's fighting to recover.
"That's basically what this deputy is going to have to do," Cortez said. "He's going to have to fight to get back to normal."
Houston officer takes first steps since being shot
Officer takes first steps after being shot by burglary suspects
Deputy Cortez is now encouraging the young officer.
"It's going to be a long road to recovery. You're going to have to lean on your fellow officers, your fellow deputies, your family, your friends," Cortez said.
Cortez says it's easier said than done, but you can't dwell on what happened.
He says just accept it, and move on, while striving to heal. He also had a message for other law enforcement going into harm's way every day.
"We should look out for each other and understand we're coming to a different time where we're not always going to be looked at as a hero."
Houston officer on road to recovery after being shot
Houston officer on road to recovery after being shot
Court records: Suspect continued to shoot at deputy after he fell to the ground
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