Chapter 35
Chapter Thirty-Five
Ethan
The truth was that I didn’t sleep a wink all night. I was worried about Aubrey’s surgery. One, in case it didn’t work, I didn’t want her to be disappointed, and two, because Dr. Marchetti had a talk with me on the effects regaining her eyesight could have on her emotionally. He said that she would have to learn to see all over again, and that could send her into a depression. He told me that it would become a developmental process, like learning a new language, and to be patient with her and help her as much as I could.
I was starting to have second thoughts about the whole thing. What if this affected her teaching? I could never live with myself if she became emotionally damaged by having this surgery. As we were getting ready to leave the next morning, I asked her if she was sure she wanted to go through with it.
“I’m sure, Ethan. Why are you asking me that?”
“Because of the effect it could have on you afterward.”
She gave me a small smile and placed her hand on the side of my face.
“I’ve done my research. I know all about the transition, and I’ll be okay. If this works, it’s going to take time for my brain to catch up. I get that. Did you really think that I just thought I could see again and there would be no problems?”
“Why didn’t you tell me this before?”
“Because it’s nothing for you to worry about. I remember colors, numbers, shapes, objects, and words. I lived in a world of light for eight years. I understand there will be some issues, but I can handle it.”
“You’re amazing. Did you know that?” I softly kissed her lips.
“Yeah, I am. Aren’t I?” She grinned.
“You sure are.” I pulled her into a tight embrace before heading to the hospital.
Aubrey
I could hear the sound of my name being called as I felt the bandages that were covering my eyes. I stirred and brought my hand to my face.
“It’s all over, Aubrey,” Dr. Marchetti spoke. “How are you feeling?”
“Tired,” I whispered.
“We need to leave the bandages on for a few more hours, and then we’ll remove them.” He grabbed hold of my hand and gave it a squeeze. “Get some rest.”
“Ethan?” I softly spoke.
“I’m right here, baby.” He kissed my forehead. “You did great. I’m so proud of you.”
“Thanks.” I attempted a half smile.
“Get some rest and let the anesthetic wear off. I’ll be right here waiting for you.”
I lightly nodded my head and drifted off into a sound sleep. After sleeping for what felt like several hours, I stirred and instantly felt the touch of a hand on mine.
“How are you feeling?” Ethan asked.
“Better.” I smiled.
“Dr. Marchetti was just in here to check up on you. He said that the bandages could come off in a couple of hours. Are you thirsty?”
“Yeah. A little bit.”
“Here’s some water.” He held the straw to my mouth.
“Have you eaten?” I asked him.
He chuckled. “Don’t worry about me. I’m fine. My mom and sister called. They wanted to see how the surgery went and to make sure you were fine.”
“That was so nice of them.”
“Penelope, Ian, and your Aunt Charlotte also called, or should I say, Facetimed me to see how you were.”
“You better not have let them see me in this bed.”
“It was only for a second, Aubrey. I swear.” He laughed. “They wanted to see for themselves how you were, plus you know Penelope. She doesn’t take no for an answer.”
A couple of hours had passed, and I was growing more nervous by the second. My hospital room door opened, and Dr. Marchetti and his team of doctors stepped inside. A sick feeling formed in the pit of my stomach. This was it, and I wasn’t sure if I was ready.
“Hi, Aubrey. Are you ready?”
I took in a long, deep breath as I tried to control my racing heart.
“I think so.”
He raised the back of the bed, so I was sitting straight up. I felt his hand start to unwrap the bandages, and my palms began to sweat.
“You okay?” Ethan asked as he held my sweaty palm.
“I’m okay.”
“Now I’m going to remove the metal plates from your eyes. Keep them closed until I tell you to open them. Okay, Aubrey, slowly, and I mean slowly, open your eyes.”
I swallowed hard first and then carefully opened my eyes. A swoosh of light fell over me, and instantly, I closed them tight.
“Aubrey, what’s wrong?” Dr. Marchetti asked.
“The light. I saw the light, and it kind of freaked me out.”
“That’s understandable. Your eyes may hurt for a moment while they adjust. Try it again, but very slowly.”
Ethan’s grip on my hand tightened as I slowly opened my eyes and stared straight ahead. I gulped as I saw black-and-white outlines of people and shadows. I slowly turned my head towards Ethan, and my eyes filled with tears as I saw him for the first time. The outline of his face was a blurred shadow, but not so blurry that I couldn’t make out his features. A tear fell from my eye as I reached up and placed my hand on his cheek, and a smile graced his beautiful face.
“I love your smile.”
“Everyone out. Let’s give them a few moments alone,” Dr. Marchetti spoke.
Ethan swallowed hard as he sat down on the edge of the bed and stared at me as he brushed a strand of hair away from my face. A tear fell from his eye, and I gently wiped it away.
“You saw that?”
“Yes.”
“Can you see, Aubrey? I mean, really see?”
“Not fully. I see shadows, outlines, and some colors, like your blue shirt.”
He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me into him.
“My God, this is a miracle. I love you so much.”
“I love you too.”
Dr. Marchetti and his team walked back in and approached me.
“How many doctors are in the room, Aubrey?” he asked.
“Including you?”
“Yes. Including me.” He smiled.
“Six.”
“How many fingers am I holding up?”
“Three.”
He walked away from the bed and over to the door.
“Now how many?”
It was so blurry that I couldn’t really make it out.
“I don’t know.”
While holding the same fingers up, he slowly walked towards me.
“Tell me when you can see how many fingers I’m holding up.”
“Four.”
“Very good.”
He approached me, sat on the other side of the bed, and placed his hand on mine.
“The surgery was a success. But it’s going to take time. It could take months, but your vision should get a little better every day. You’re going to need some help learning to see again. I’m not too concerned about colors, shapes, numbers, and various objects because you learned all that before the accident. Your brain has to readapt to its visual surroundings. It needs to retrain itself. Don’t get too frustrated if things don’t come to you. You need to stay here overnight for observation and if all checks out well, you can go back to your hotel tomorrow and fly back to New York on Sunday.”