When I meet Will Everson, he's in a bad place—at twenty-nine, he's beaten cancer twice, but since it came back a third time, he seems to have surrendered to fate. He's all alone—no friends or family have come to see him—which is how I came to know him. You see, I'm a clinical psychologist at the hospital, and the nurses watch out for patients like Will because they know I just can't bear to let anyone die alone. I want to be Will's friend, but he won't tell me anything about himself. Where are his friends and family? Why has he given up on living? And why is he keeping me at arm's length at every turn? I know I can help Will make peace with his choices, but first I have to convince him to let me in . . . before it's too late.

"Will you stay? At least for a few minutes? You're the first visitor I've had."Intense green eyes, so warm and yet distant. So alone and vulnerable, yet so resilient and strong."Can I come back tomorrow?"So many days spent with him, gaining his trust by giving him my own. Falling in love with him a day at a time. A smile at a time."I'm scared, Tori. I feel like I'm falling apart, and there's nothing left to hold on to.""Hold on to me, sweetheart."Oh God, and then . . ."Tori, I want you to go . . . and I don't want you . . . to come back tomorrow."And I left."Code blue, code blue, room four-twelve."And he nearly left this world before I could get back to him. Before he could see the truth of what was between us."Jenny, is there any hope for him?""Tori, you need to be there for him and help him fight this. Remember that he loves you, and in the end, he chose you."He chose me.Will...