Free Blind with Love by Becca Jameson Page B

harder.
    “I don’t want you to do too much,” explained the doctor, as if reading Chase’s mind. “Give your eyes time to adjust. Don’t rub them. The corneas need to heal. I’m going to put some drops in each eye, and leave them here on the table for you to put in anytime they feel dry, but at least once every few hours. Sleep. Rest. Each time you wake up, you will probably see improvement. Literally.”
    The doctor’s congratulations continued as he exited. Chase was still dumbfounded. Hope for the first time in so long. Chase could feel the pull of sleep dragging him under. He needed to escape. To let his mind relax. The mixture of excitement and disappointment was wearing on him, tugging at his heart.
    “Chase, we are so happy for you. This is wonderful.” If he could see clearer, Chase knew his mother’s smile, a memory from so very long ago, would be wide and sincere. God, how he wanted to see that again. And it all seemed within reach now.
    If only he could see Kristen, too. Where was she?
    * * * *
     
    Later Sunday afternoon, Chase heard Margo’s approach from down the hall long before she entered his hospital room. The quick precise clop clop clop of her heels. She had always walked like her life depended on her getting “there” right this minute.
    Breathlessly, before she even made it all the way into the room, Margo began, “She left a note.”
    “What? You’re kidding.” Chase sat up straighter and stared in Margo’s direction. So far all he could make out was her form, but his vision was improving by the hour. “Well? What the hell did it say?”
    Margo rustled around in her purse before yanking out a piece of paper, which she proceeded to shake through the air, as if to straighten it before beginning. The crisp sound of the fold being shook out increased Chase’s anxiety.
    “Margo?”
    “Okay, okay. ‘Dear Margo, I’m so sorry to run out like this without talking to you. I have some things I need to take care of out of town and I’ll be gone for a while. Please don’t think this had anything to do with your brother. He’s a gem. I’m sure he’ll make some girl incredibly happy some day. The timing sucks, but there’s nothing I can do about it. Tell Chase how sorry I am and how much I enjoyed our evening. I hope the surgery was a success. He deserves all the best. Hugs and Kisses, Kristen.’”
    Chase couldn’t speak. He couldn’t even swallow yet. He was frozen like a statue, soaking up every word as though the meaning of life had been about to be revealed as it pertained to him.
    “She’s gone?”
    “That’s what it says. I tried her apartment and there was no answer. Her cell just goes to voicemail.” Margo’s voice got perceptibly louder as she walked closer to Chase and then took his hand in hers. “I’m so sorry. I know you really liked her. I’m so confused. I thought we were really good friends. How could she do this?”
    Margo kept rambling about her relationship with Kristen, but Chase could barely hear anything else she said. His ears were ringing as if he were under water. She left? For where? Why? So many unanswered questions ran through his head. Within the span of just two minutes, Chase went from worry to anger. Now he was pissed.
    Interrupting Margo’s own personal pity party, Chase sputtered out, “Margo… Margo …”
    “Yes?” Margo began to squeeze Chase’s arm, probably unaware she was even doing so.
    “Please, could I just have some peace and quiet for a while? Could you like…go get some coffee or something?” He wanted her to leave. He wanted to throw things at the wall. Scream. Have a tantrum like a big baby.
    “Oh… Yeah, sure. I’ll just…be back in a few.” Clomp clomp clomp, her heels seemed even louder receding from the room than they had arriving moments ago.
    How in the hell could he have met the perfect woman for him, and then she just left the next day, with no word? Had he misinterpreted so severely their time together?