Instead of touching him, I set the sandwich on the nightstand and curl up into the chair by the window and watch them sleep, hoping he finds a moment of peace before the grief sets in.

Someone gently shakes my shoulder as I peel my eyes open. I was deep into a dream, riding mindlessly on my bike across the beach. There were arms tight around my waist and a warm body against my back. It was pleasant as fuck, and I almost don’t want to wake up.

Especially since I know why they’re waking me up.

“Murph,” Savannah whispers. When my eyes open, I see her face, silhouetted in the early evening sun. I want to focus on how beautiful she looks in this moment and not the words coming out of her mouth. “She’s fading, Murph. Shelby says it’s time to say goodbye.”

A low groan escapes my mouth, and Savannah’s hand lingers on my chest. If I could pull her against my body, I would.

Instead, I sit up and look at Hazel sleeping next to me. Ruby is holding her hand, stroking her arm as tears fall silently down her cheeks. “I’ll miss your terrible sense of humor,” she mumbles.

“Where is the nurse?” My voice sounds like it's been through a blender, and my throat aches with the need for water, but right now I can only focus on Hazel.

“She’s in the kitchen,” Savannah mumbles quietly. “Murph—”

I can tell by her tone that she wants to calm me down. She’d rather I sit quietly next to her while we let this woman just die. Well, I don't do that.

“Fuck goodbyes.” My feet stomp loudly against the old wood floors as I leave the bedroom for the kitchen. There, leaning against the countertop is the young nurse, who seems to be too busy signing papers when she should be doing her fucking job.

Ryder is standing near the small kitchen table, but I don’t even look at him. Savannah is fast on my heels. “Get in there and do something,” I bark at the nurse. Her head snaps up in surprise, but much to her credit, she doesn’t cringe or look scared.

“I’m a hospice nurse, Mr. Murphy. My job is to keep her comfortable. I’d say today is her last day, so if you’d like to say your goodbyes before it’s too late, I suggest you do it now.”

“Get out of this fucking house,” I rage back. Everyone around me, including Ryder, is shouting my name. My vision pulses with fury. The only thought in my head is that I won’t let her die. Not this fast. Not this easily.

A soft hand pulls on my arm, and suddenly I’m face to face with Savannah, her soft fingers in my beard, keeping my sight on her. “Look at me,” she whispers.