Penny drops her head at this. Hearing him say those three words evokes something deep inside her. He used to tell her all the time that he loved her. She hadn’t realised how much she’d missed hearing it. She can’t hold the tears in any longer.

‘I want to be with you,’ he pleads.

She shakes her head, wiping at her face. She can’t even look at him. He’s staring at her with such longing. This is exactly why she didn’t tell him the truth in the beginning. ‘No, I can’t do that to you.’

‘Why, Penny?’

‘Because I’m going to die.’ She clutches her heart; saying it aloud hurts more than the soft whisper she allows to float through her head. ‘And I don’t want you to have to live with that grief. It hurts, it hurts so much that I don’t want you to have to suffer.’

‘Don’t you get it, Penny?’ Ty asks. ‘I’m suffering now.’

She looks into his eyes and sees the raw pain. The pain she’s causing him.

‘Let me be with you. I want to spend whatever time you’ve got left by your side.’

She can feel herself crumbling. Of course she wants Ty by her side. She’s never stopped loving him. Her heart has continued to ache for him the whole time they’ve been apart.

‘I know losing you is going to crush me, but don’t rob me of any more time.’ Ty reaches out for her and she feels herself fall into him. Her body relaxes against his. This wasn’t what she’d decided, but it’s what she wants. To be with Ty. To love him with every ounce of herself. ‘I love you,’ she whispers.

She feels his relief against her body. ‘I love you too. So much, Penny.’ He holds her closer to him. ‘Please, let me look after you.’

She’s scared, terrified, of what’s to come. More pain, loss of functions and, inevitably, death.

His hand touches her face, tilting it so she looks up at him. He looks at her with adoration as he leans down, letting his lips touch her own. Her body is filled with an ecstasy better than any of the drugs she’s been having for the pain. Their love is a therapy like no other.

‘Okay,’ she finally says. ‘Please, be with me until the end.’

Chapter 56

56

‘Can I show you something?’

Darcy is walking down the hall, having just left Ty. He’s leaving the show. He doesn’t care if the network sues him. Penelope doesn’t have much time left and he wants to be with her. Darcy had barely been able to speak. What do you say to someone who has just found out that the love of their life is dying?