Second Chance-In the mist Book 1 novel Chapter 8

As soon as I heard the clink of utensils, I knew it was the big moment. The moment of truth. If I said I wasn't nervous, I'd be lying. I was. A lot depended on my vision. 

Somehow behind the bandages, I closed my eyes as I felt the cold stainless steel on my cheek, cutting the piece of cloth covering my face.

I could feel my heart beating like crazy and even expect either joy or disappointment. From two precise cuts, the bandage fell gently caressing my cheeks. Now there were the patches remaining stuck to my eyes. My breathing quickened and as I felt Declan's deft hands, I was one step closer to the truth. As soon as he peeled off my white patch, I expected everything to be dark until my eyes got used to the light. Declan himself was keen to assure me of that.

"Miss Holland, don't be scared. You won't see anything at the moment. It'll take ten minutes, a quarter of an hour tops to figure out the result. In the meantime, allow me to use the medical flashlight..."

I had calmed down listening to the doctor, but I had to admit I was afraid. Time passed rather quickly, and the room had become quiet. I still couldn't see anything, and I was panicking.

"Doctor, what's going on? Why can't I see yet?" I panicked, turning my head left and right as if searching for the perfect position for my eyes to receive vision.

"Let me look..." And Declan approached again with the flashlight. "Do you feel that? Does it bother you?" he asked curiously, but I didn't even know what I was supposed to feel. 

"I don't... I can't see... What is supposed to bother me?" 

"The light! Something's wrong, Miss Holland!" 

ACCEPTANCE

Rebecca's story

I was desperately trying to keep my composure, but I was not succeeding. I couldn't see anything, and the doctor's confirmation gave me the creeps.

Despite the situation I was living at maximum intensity, I tried to follow Declan's voice.

"How is it? Declan..." I asked, frightened, blinking involuntarily, as if whatever was wrong with my eyes would be pushed away. 

Declan's response was not long in coming, but it was exactly what I feared most.

"Miss Holland, I have good news and not so good news. The less good news is that you do indeed have an injury to your eye nerve, that is because of posttraumatic stress. And the good news is it's not permanent. So, your recovery could happen any time now." 

I haven't had better news than this in as long as I can remember. Although I couldn't see, I was glad it was temporary. If there was a dance of joy right now, I would do it.

"Okay, then if everything is as it should be and there is no more serious cause for concern, I suggest we cut to the chase and go straight home," interrupted Dominic, who until then had been silent and seemed like he didn't really care about my condition or that I was so happy I wasn't blind permanently. 

Although it seemed hard to believe, I tried to pick myself up piece by piece and focus on what might be important. To focus on this man's help. Maybe I didn't have family close by, maybe I was alone and all I needed now was a change of scenery. I've been through some tough times. But I've survived. That was the most important thing. And the next thing, although it would cost me my pride, was to allow this man who claims to be Dominic Stone to help me.