Chapter 1

Two kilometers short of the summit of Mount Everest, my boyfriend, John Rowe, suggested we hold an anonymous vote to choose one person who would stay behind.

When the results came in, four of us had voted, and I had four votes.

John signed to me gently as he explained. "The air's thinner up there, and you can't hear. It's safer for you to wait here."

Odette Chavez, my best friend, came over and hugged me, her face full of reluctance to let me go.

My brother, Edgar Henson, gave me a few quick instructions, took my gear, and left me with only a couple of pieces of bread.

My eyes went red as I stood there, dazed, listening to them walk off, talking and laughing.

"She'll be okay here on her own, right?" Edgar asked.

"She's deaf anyway. No point dragging her along." Odette's voice was cold.

John kept walking, one arm around Odette beside him.

"If you're really that worried, go back and keep her company."

He paused, then added, "That way Odette and I get some time alone."

Edgar didn't hesitate. He picked up his pace and caught up with them.

My mind went blank for a moment. I'd meant to tell them after we reached the top, the good news that my hearing had recovered.

Now it was clear that I was the extra one in all of this.

...

Tears had already blurred my eyes as I started down with the half bottle of oxygen they'd left me.

I'd only gone five hundred meters when the dizziness hit, and I had to stop and breathe from the tank.

The light was fading when the screen of the satellite phone suddenly lit up.

I picked it up. It was a message from John.

【Greta Henson, we've made it to the summit. The view up here is beautiful!】

【How are you doing right now? We'll meet back up tomorrow.】

I gave a small, bitter laugh and didn't reply.

When we'd realized the oxygen bottles we'd brought were only enough for three people to summit, John had suggested the vote.

I'd been afraid everyone would vote for Odette and that it would upset her, so I cast a vote for myself.

I'd even thought I'd stay behind with her and wait for John and Edgar to come back down.

I never once imagined I'd be the one they abandoned.

All at once the cold wrapped around my body, and I couldn't stop shaking.

And the medicine in my pack had all been taken by Edgar.

Trembling, I picked up the satellite phone and sent John a message.

Ten minutes passed with no reply.

I hit the call button directly, but still no one answered.

I forced myself to calm down and sent a message asking for help to the number I knew best.

I curled up, and my mind slowly grew hazy.

It wasn't until the next day, when a familiar sound reached my ears, that I woke.

I pushed hard against the ground with my hands and sat up.

What came into view was John, carrying Odette on his back.

I swallowed down the ache in my chest and glanced at the satellite phone. John still hadn't answered me.

I called out their names with everything I had, but not one of them looked my way.

My body was losing heat again, so much that I was shaking too hard to get any words out.

My legs were too weak to stand, so I could only drag myself toward them, inch by painful inch.

Just then the sound of a helicopter reached my ears.

My head jerked up. It had to be the rescue team she'd sent.

John shouted up toward the helicopter. "There's someone here with an injured foot!"

Soon they were pulled up into the helicopter.

I kept making noise, trying to draw their attention.

When the three of them saw me being lifted into the helicopter, their eyes filled with alarm.

John frowned. "Greta, why did you go down by yourself?"

"Do you know Odette twisted her ankle looking for you?"

"Didn't I tell you to stay put and wait for us?"

Only after he'd said it did John remember I couldn't hear, and he signed it all again.

A wave of bitterness rose in me. Slowly I reached out toward Edgar. "Give me the medicine."

Edgar hesitated, then dug around in his pack for a moment.

But John pressed his hand down and stopped him.