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.