Then she says, ‘I love you.’ Like three drops of blood falling onto snow.

She'll understand what I already know - that death surrounds us all. And it tastes like metal between your teeth.

It hurts and hurts to have him this close. I feel sick with it.

I'm here, Tess. I'm right here, holding your hand. Adam's here, too, he's sitting on the other side of the bed. And Cal. Mum's on her way, she'll be just a minute. We all love you, Tessa. We're all right here with you.

I shrug him off. 'Can't you just go away?" There's a moment. It has a sound in it, as if something very small got broken.

I've always wanted to be a cat. Warm and domesticated when you want to be, wild when you don't.

Then she says, ‘I love you.’ Like three drops of blood falling onto snow.