A tiny sprig of hope burst inside him as he laid her down.

"Irene, Irene!" He shook her, then listened for the sound of breathing. "Come on, oh God." It was like the island fell away and he was right back to that night in Chicago, only instead of EMTs pushing him aside to work on her, he had the chance to save her himself. To finally put right a wrong.

The rational side of him already knew it was futile but that tiny speck of hope was enough to make him press his mouth to hers and blow.