JOSHUA BOOK 2: THE TIES THAT BIND

CHAPTER 4: WELCOME BACK!

As soon as Joshua had fainted from the extreme cold, intense pain and grueling exhaustion, James quickly took him inside the house. Eli had heard what was going on and immediately took Joshua to Lakewood Hospital. Mary rode with Eli to the hospital, a weeping Nadia as well. it was 11:30pm on a cold late January night.

"We have a 17 year old male with a heart defect, a broken rib and a severely sprained ankle, stat!" Eli barked orders when he wheeled Joshua into intensive care.

"Right on it, Eli," one of his assistants named Sherri Hanyu said.

"Be careful with him; he's dehydrated and he definitely has lost weight." Eli said additionally.

As Eli and the nurses worked on Joshua, Mary and Nadia waited outside in the waiting room. Nadia was crying, Mary was comforting her and trying to stay collected herself.

12 hours later, Joshua was allowed to return home, as his condition had turned for the better.

TWO DAYS LATER

Joshua woke up in the morning, groggy and still sore, but not as much as two days before.

"Joshua, baby?"

He squinted, and then saw his mother's concerned face turn to utter joy and relief at his bedside. He looked around at the familiar sights sounds and smells of his bedroom. Home, I'm home! He thought in pure relief.

"Mum," he croaked. Brianne kissed her frail son and stroked his wavy locks.

"Oh my boy; thank God you're all right!" she murmured softly in his ear, her gem green eyes shone with relief.

"Oh my God; Joshua!" Mary came in sobbing and she hugged her husband carefully. "I was so worried about you! I prayed for you every day!"

"I prayed for all of you too." Joshua returned Mary's hug, and then looked around. "How long have I been knocked out?"

"You slept like a babe for two days." Jesse said coming in and sitting beside him carefully. "You had a fever and you lost a lot of weight."

Joshua's brows were raised in surprise, yet he knew he must have been really tired. "Has it really been that long?!" he asked.

Jesse chuckled as he nodded.

"I lost weight because the guy had processed gluten foods so I just survived on water. Yeah, I kind of remember being cold one minute and hot the next." Joshua said. He moved his right foot it felt weird and heavy. He looked up at Jesse in confusion.

"Oh, Sherri and Eli worked on you at Lakewood Hospital the last two days." Mary explained. "You had two fractured ribs on the right side but they weren't that bad; just a slight crack. You also had a severely sprained ankle so Sherri put a cast on it and your fever broke last night."

"Oh okay," Joshua nodded in understanding. Then his stomach growled loudly. His eyes widened. "Oh my," Joshua laughed. "I must be hungry now. I had only water in two weeks!"

"I bet," Mary giggled and kissed her husband's cheek. Joshua leaned in to his wife's hug.

"I hope you're hungry. I fixed up gluten-free toast for ya," Eli said coming in and out.

"Oh good, because I'm starving!" Joshua said with a smile.

After showering and getting dress with Lincoln's help, Joshua went downstairs, with help from James, who was relieved and happy to see him. They went slowly to ease the pain in his right rib.

"It feels weird having to use your left foot, huh?" James asked.

"Yes, definitely." Joshua laughed.