The flat, steady beeping kept drilling into Nathan’s ears, burning into his brain like the echo of the moment the world stopped. Tessa. His Tessa. Lying there, motionless. Pale. Eyes closed.

He wanted her to open them, to look at him again with that green that always anchored him to reality.

“Please do something.” His voice came out rough and cracked, so wrecked it barely sounded like his own.

They tried to move him back. Blue-gloved hands grabbed his arm and pulled, but he fought ...