Adrenaline kicks in my medical skills, but part of me stalls because I’ve never been able to save anyone I loved.
I stare at the beautiful face of the angel who walked into my life and changed everything in a matter of weeks. Everything was the same for so long I couldn’t remember what true happiness felt like. Until her.
That moves me, and I snap into action performing CPR.
I keep going until the heavy footfalls of men approach me. Eric’s face is the first I see, then the others.
When he realizes what’s happened to Lucia, he calls for an ambulance.
His voice sounds miles away to me because all I hear is the pounding of my heart as I continue chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth breathing to save Lucia.
I keep going well past the time you’re supposed to. I don’t stop even when Massimo rests a hand on my shoulder.
I refuse, and when I look at Lucia’s lifeless body and see she looks like she’s gone to the other side, my refusal to give up is amplified a hundredfold and I throw a fist into her chest.
“Wake up, Lucia! I need you!” I shout again and throw another punch of desperation.
I don’t know which does it. My call to her or the punch, but she takes a gulp of air, and seconds later, her chest moves into a steady rise and fall.
She blinks, and shallow breaths falls from her lips.
I have her back.
Jesus, I have her back.
I saved her, and I’m never letting her leave me again.
In life or in death.