This brave, mysterious woman had just taken her own life to save him. He stared in bewilderment, slowly gaining full consciousness, as the sonic screwdriver she had been holding rolled across the floor. It came just close enough to his hand that he was able to grab it, despite the handcuffs. He soniced himself out, standing up to leave, unable to face the reality that River had just died for him. He hardly knew who she was, but she knew him. The Doctor had no doubt in his mind that she knew him very well. He turned, heading away from her, when suddenly he heard her voice. 'There is no way she could have survived,' he thought to himself.
Nevertheless, he heard a faint "Doctor" come from behind him. He turned on his heels, facing her. "Oh, no," he murmured aloud. River remained where she had been, slumped over, eyes shut. However, the light on her space suit was still active. She was ghosting. The Doctor approached her, kneeling down to look up at her.
"Doctor, I love you. Where are you?" the memory of River asked.
"It's okay, River. I'm right here," he spoke gently, not completely sure what to say to this woman who loved him so completely.
"I love you, Doctor." She spoke again, fading more slightly. Overwhelmed with confusion, the Doctor did the only thing he could. He reached out for River, holding her hand. He doubted it would make the ghosting any better, but he simply knew that there was nothing else he could possibly do.
"More than every living thing in the universe…"
"Oh River, I know, I know," he said, a futile attempt at comforting what was left of the remarkable woman.
"Doctor, I love you," she repeated, repeated, repeated, until, finally, the light on her space suit went out. The Doctor stood slowly. He kissed the top of her head.
"You were amazing, River. You saved everyone." He smiled, albeit sadly, and took the bluest of blue diary from her.