Free Blind with Love by Becca Jameson Page A

be forwarded, and gave all her potted plants to a neighbor.
    After another restless night, barely getting any sleep once again, Kristen now sat for the first time in nearly twenty-four hours, waiting for her flight. Deep breaths did not help calm her racing heart. It had all seemed like such a clean break, up until Friday night. How had she let this happen? Why had she agreed to go on that date?
    Kristen stared out the window at the tarmac and wondered for the millionth time how the surgery had gone. What was Chase thinking about her hasty departure? Hell, what was Margo thinking? Knowing Margo, she probably thought aliens had abducted Kristen. As a last minute thought, Kristen had slipped a note under Margo’s apartment door before heading for the airport, letting her know she was fine, she had some “things” she had to take care of, and she didn’t know when she would be back. Now she wondered if Margo had read the note yet, or if she was still at the hospital.
    Kristen’s cell phone had rung all weekend. Finally, she turned it off, never allowing herself to listen to the messages. What good would it have done to hear their voices? It wouldn’t change anything. The clean break was better. Right?
    Chewing on her bottom lip, Kristen tried to squeeze off the tears threatening to spill over onto her cheeks once again. Now that she was idle, she couldn’t hold back her emotions any longer. When were they going to call for boarding? If she could just get on the plane. If she could just get out of town. If she could just put some distance between herself and her past…
    * * * *
     
    Dr. Russell walked into the room Sunday morning at almost the same moment as Margo and Chase’s parents. “Are we ready? I bet you are chomping at the bit to get that bandage removed.”
    Chase pulled himself to a sitting position. This was it.
    He lifted his face to the doctor, pasted a small grin on. “Let’s do it.”
    Dr. Russell clanked something onto the little table next to Chase and began to speak again. “Now, I want you to be prepared. We have no guarantees here. If the surgery was successful, it will take time, several weeks, to be sure of the level of success. You won’t be able to see everything this very afternoon. What we are hoping for right now is just a distinction between light and dark, perhaps even moving shapes.” He paused before adding, “May I?” He asked the question while placing his hands on Chase’s bandages.
    Someone had a tight grip on Chase’s arm. His mother. Fear had an even firmer hold on Chase. His chest was aching, and he didn’t have any way of knowing how much was pain over Kristen’s disappearance and how much was fear about his eyesight. He held his breath as Dr. Russell removed the bandages.
    And then…light! For the first time in nearly twenty years. Nothing distinct, just shapes and light. Movement of objects even.
    “Well?” Dr. Russell questioned.
    “Oh, my God. Things are moving in front of me. I can’t believe it. I can see shadows. Slight colors. Movement. This will get better? Do you really think?” Excitement coursed through him, temporarily knocking aside all other thoughts.
    Dr. Russell chuckled. “I believe it will each day. We’ll keep you here a few more days to monitor the progress. It’s hard to tell how much sight you may get. At some point it will level off and then we’ll have a better idea. I’m very hopeful though. This is a good sign. Hold still a minute. Let me have a look at those new corneas.”
    The doctor leaned so close to Chase he could distinguish the shadow in front of him, feel the doctor’s warm breath on his face. And then a bright light shined in his left eye, causing him to jerk in surprise.
    Dr. Russell chuckled again. “Good. Good. Everything looks perfect. Healing fine…” He moved to shine the light in Chase’s right eye. Blessed bright light that warmed his soul.
    Chase was stunned. He wanted to jump up and force himself to try