Emmery swallowed hard. Faced with the very man he had most wanted to avoid, his lips clamped shut and his voice went silent. Now what? The artist took a deep breath. "A bit of both, I guess, with one little change. Oliver said something sensible for once." He cracked a paltry smile.

"Emmery? Did you actually say what I think you did?" The soft voice, drowsy as it was, sounded entirely lucid.

Em tried to push his way past Eddie, even tough he knew that was improbable. Impossible. The Messenger was far stronger then he could ever be. "I did." He took another breath to stop himself from feeling like he was drowning in quick sand. "I've always liked you..."

"And all the people?"

"Me trying to forget the impossible ... To fill a void." He shrugged and glanced at Eddie. "I thought it was impossible .. or I would have said something ...." Em struggled not to cry.