Chapter 23

"How's Josh?" Emily asked. Eleanor shook her head and replied, "The doctor said the wound was deep. Though it missed his heart, things are still bad. If he doesn't wake up in three days…" She didn't finish the sentence and sighed as the implication in the rest of her words was clear enough. Noah finally seemed to grasp the whole picture. He turned, stunned, to look at Joshua. "Did he take that knife for you?" Emily nodded. She wasn't sure if she was answering him or speaking to the unconscious Joshua as she said, "If it weren't for him, I'd be the one lying here right now." The room fell silent. Indeed, if Joshua hadn't been there, how could she have dodged that blade that came straight for her heart? Joshua had bought himself a second chance at life because of his height, but what about her? Noah dared not dwell on the thought; he fell silent. His throat tightened painfully, and after a long pause, he rasped out, "I'm sorry, Emily. If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have had t