Maria.
Noah's body was thrown backward, the force of the impact sending him crashing into the wall behind him with a loud, echoing thud.
The sound made my heart drop.
"Noah!" I screamed, the name tearing out of me as I scrambled to my feet and rushed toward him without thinking.
Everything else faded, all the fear, all the confusion.
It didn't matter.
All that mattered was him.
I dropped to my knees in front of him, my hands reaching for his shoulders as I shook him gently at first, then harder when he didn't respond.
"Noah, please… wake up," I pleaded, my voice trembling, breaking under the weight of panic.
Tears streamed down my face uncontrollably, blurring my vision as I searched his face for any sign, any small movement, that he was still conscious.
But he wasn't moving, not even a little.
My breath hitched.
"Noah…" I whispered again, softer this time, as if lowering my voice would somehow reach him better.
Still nothing.
A cold fear settled deep in my chest.
