He brushes back hair from her face, his fingers gentle and soft against her skin. Her breathing is shallow, but she inhales his smell. She wishes her body would allow her a deep breath so she could take the sweet scent to the pit of her stomach. She’s glad he’s here with her now. She’d been focused on believing that he didn’t need to go through this. But maybe he did. Taking care of her with such devotion might offer him some peace once she’s gone.

‘You look beautiful,’ he says.

She wants to swat at him or even laugh at such a ridiculous suggestion, but she doesn’t have the energy. ‘You’re deluded,’ she finally manages.

‘That might be the case, but I still think you’re the most beautiful woman in the entire world.’

She can’t resist a smile at this. She reaches for his hand, needing more of him. Her chest aches at the knowledge that she’s leaving him behind. They could have had forever and her heart is still wrestling with accepting that what she’s had is better than not having him at all.

‘Thank you for everything, Ty.’

He chokes at hearing these words, tears brimming as he brings his lips down to kiss her hand.

She wants to keep looking at him, to take in every feature of the man she loves, but her eyelids are heavy. She can feel something trying to pull her away. Her eyelids flutter to the darkness.

Her own whimpers wake her, with the pain now overwhelming. Her eyes try to adjust to her surroundings and panic jolts through her body when she realises she’s not at home anymore. Just like her mum and just like Miranda, hospital confines her.

But the warmth of Ty’s hand as it wraps around her own immediately calms her. The fingertips of his other hand lightly dance across her skin. She concentrates on the feeling, not just the physical sensation but the emotion. Pure, good, and whole.

‘It’s okay,’ he tells her gently, giving her permission to leave him.

Quietness settles around them, Ty’s hand forever holding hers, offering a safeness like no other.

Time warps, the concept vanishing altogether. But Ty stays by her side.

The pain dulls as she wraps herself in his love, in all his affection, in the knowledge that what she had with Ty was better than she ever imagined.

Her breath slows …

… slows …

. . . s l o w s . . .

Until there is no breath at all.

Acknowledgements

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

It is a dream come true that this book is being published and there are so many people in my life who deserve heartfelt thanks.

To Alex, I hit the jackpot with you. I’m so thankful for the life we have.