He stroke her cheek with soft fingers, cupping it in his hand as he refused to look at what was in front of him.
"Are you just going to give up on being a lawyer, just like that!? Throw everything we've done away, just like that?" she screamed at him, her voice shrill and cracking with hurt. "Nick, you and Pearly were the only family I had left and...and you...you just gave up!" she yelled, her voice shaking as big tears formed in her eyes, making a trail down her cheeks. "Maya, please...-"
He knelt down beside the hospital bed, slowly removing his rough hand from her perfect face.
"No...I..." she sniffled, bringing herself to glare at him. The former attorney could only stare back with an expression of disbelief. "You know what? I hate you! I really do!" she screamed, the tears now coming down like a waterfall.
He could feel his heart swarming with regret, the pain and grief plugging his throat as he tried to swallow and comprehend.
"I...I would've tried, just-" Phoenix's voice broke as he stared at the girl he'd come to care for so much slowly break. Sometimes he just forgot how fragile she really was.
He knew everything was his fault. He could have prevented this some way. If they hadn't fought, he would still be by her side and protecting her so she wouldn't get hurt.
She gave up, crouching down and looking at her feet. "I thought you wanted to." "Even if I did-" "I know. Now you can't. Because you gave up," she muttered.
His hand felt for hers, cold as ice in the hospital room. Her shallow breathing was accompanied by the harsh beep of a machine.
"Nick, one day, I want to live by the ocean. We'll have a house and everything. Pearly and Trucy are gonna play in the water and make sand castles every day. We could go eat all the burgers we'd want 'cause we'd live right by a burger joint! And then, when the sun is setting, we'll have our own patio and cheap chairs just to watch it go! Doesn't that sound fun, Nick?" her dark eyes were sparkling as she fantasized about another, peaceful life. "What about Kurain? And it seems you forgot I have a job." She made a pouty face, earning her a loose laugh.
He let himself take a glimpse at her still body, refusing to look at the parts that he knew would end her. He just focused on her face, the peaceful face of a girl sleeping. That's it, she was just sleeping.
"But we can try, right?" she asked, her face returning to its normal smile, her eyes lit up with hope.
He didn't stop the tears from forming in his eyes and rolling down his face as he stared at her form. Maybe if he'd been given more time, he could still make her dreams come true. Or at least take her out for another burger - the best burger she'd ever have.
"Of course we can. We can always try."