Chapter Seventeen

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

 

“So complex is the human spirit that it can itself scarce discern the deep springs which impel it to action.” Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The White Company

 

 

 

“Quinn?” My head was pounding fiercely behind my eyes. “How are you feeling?”

I smiled, still half asleep, “I love that voice.” It belonged to Jayce, I must have been dreaming. I kept my eyes closed, wanting to keep the dream, wanting to hear the voice again.

“Well I can’t say I have ever received that compliment before.”

            I shot open my eyes, now fully awake, “Jayce?”

            He laughed lightly, “who else?” The pounding was gradually increasing, making me feel nauseous. The room reeked of antiseptic and sterilizing gel. I shifted slightly on the bed and groaned when my muscles hated me for it.

 

My whole body was incredibly sore, my bones even ached. Every shallow breath I inhaled sent a pang of sharp, hot pain through my right side. I licked my cracked lips with my dry tongue and tasted metallic tasting blood. My stomach turned and with it rose a wave of dreadful, burning bile that never reached my lips, instead it sat idle in my parched throat.

           

“But you left.” I whispered; quiet not to worsen the pain in my throbbing head.

            “Shh,” He dismissed, “How are you feeling?”

            I tried to shrug, sending a shock of pain through my muscles; I winced, “like I just went through a meat grinder.”

            I felt his weight press down on the mattress next to me, “you’re at the hospital. You got hit by a car.” He spoke softly.

           

I groaned, “I got mugged.”

            “What?” I cringed at the volume of his voice.

            “And then hit by a car.”

He was silent a moment, “did he… hurt you?” He asked delicately, there was a tinge of anger in his voice.

I shook my head as best I could, “they took my necklace.”

He let out a tight breath of relief, “It’s only a necklace, you’re lucky to have your life.” He paused. “You have three broken ribs, a bruised kidney and a concussion. You’re going to be sore for some time.”

 

I nodded in acknowledgement, listening to the soft beeping of the machine monitoring my heartbeat. “I went to your apartment.” He was silent. “You left.”

“I moved. I have a new apartment now.” He sighed sadly, “I didn’t leave you Quinn.”

            I swallowed, “I thought-“

            “I don’t plan on going anywhere.” He interrupted.

            Tears stung the backs of my eyes, “I’m sorry about Austin.”

            “It doesn’t matter.” He held my hand, “I went to your house you know. Your mom thought you had gone to see me.” He cleared his throat, “I waited for you to get back, we called Austin when it got late to see if you were there.”

            “I fell asleep in your apartment.” I admitted, “I thought you were gone.” I struggled to keep my voice steady.

            He squeezed my hand gently, “We went out looking for you, your mom, Austin and myself. We drove along the route you would have taken and saw an ambulance and police cars and-” He drew in a long, deep breath, “I don’t think any of us have ever been so terrified.”

           

            “Where are they now?” I asked quietly.

            “In the waiting room. Only one of us is allowed to visit you at a time.” He shuffled closer to me on the bed, “its past visiting hours.”

           

“God. I didn’t mean to worry anyone.”

“It was my fault.” He said sadly, “If I had gone to that apartment to find you instead of waiting at your house-“

“No. You do not feel guilty understand? It was no one’s fault.” He didn’t answer so I asked again, “okay?”

He leaned over and kissed me gently on the forehead. “You shouldn’t get mad in your condition.” I could hear a weak smile in his voice, he was trying to lighten the mood as always and I loved him for it.

 

I wanted him to wrap me up in his arms, kiss me all over and make the bruises disappear, I wanted to pretend any of this ever happened and just live from here on out.

“You were really scared?”

            He gently touched the swollen tissue above my eyebrow, “You have no idea.”

            “So was I” I whispered, thinking back not to the attack, but to the emptiness of that apartment and what that had meant to me. “Why did you go to my house?”

            “I wanted to see you. Going a week without you put things in perspective.” His voice quivered, and his threatening tears only brought mine to surface that much quicker.

            “Like what?” I asked my face now damp.

            “Like I don’t know what I would do if you- if you didn’t recover.” His voice was unsteady and I pulled him closer to me. I craved to hold him, to make his fear disappear.  He pressed my hand to his lips, “Like that I love you Quinn Leerey.”

           

                                   ***  

 

            “Are you feeling a little better today?”

            I shrugged, “I feel like a stoning victim but I guess that’s better than yesterday.” I let a small smile spread across my face. “Do I get to go home?”

            The doctor chuckled softly, “yes, you’re being discharged today. Just… try to take it easy.”

            “Me? Always.”

            “Yeah, right.” He shuffled through some papers and sat in the visitor chair next to the bed I sat on, “there’s one more thing before you go Quinn.”

            I looked at him puzzled, “What’s that?”

           

“It has been brought to my attention that there is a procedure that could help you.” He cleared his throat and I waited for the elaboration, “when the surgeon reattached your retina’s after the fire they discovered your corneas were basically useless.”

            “I’m blind, yes, I knew that already.” I said the statement without cruel sarcasm.

           

“Yes. Well, I feel you might be a good candidate to be placed on a donor list for new corneas. It’s a pretty painful process and you would have to make frequent return visits to the eye surgeon to drain fluid build up for a while afterwards.”

 

My heart beat quickly in my chest, was this doctor offering me hope, a second chance? “I- I could see again?” I couldn’t believe the words that rolled off my now numb tongue.

“Well certainly not twenty-twenty vision, we have no way of knowing how efficient your sight would be, but you would have it nonetheless. That is if the surgery is a success and your body doesn’t reject the corneas.”

 

I couldn’t help but laugh in sweet bliss; I would get my sight back! Everything I had wanted to do my whole life, I would be able to do. Oh how I longed to see bright colour, fresh greenery and look into the face of my mother once again. “Yes, yes! I’ll do it.” I said ecstatic.

“Well Quinn, I have to let you know, there are complications with this surgery, as with any surgery, and the odds of finding a compatible set are very slim. It may take years before we find a suitable match.”

My facial muscles ached with the broad grin that plastered my face, “That’s fine, that’s totally fine. I’ll go on the list, what do I have to sign?” I asked eagerly.

The doctor cleared his throat, “well you will have to meet with the surgeon who will evaluate you further and inform you of all the risks and details involved. Then he will provide you with the paperwork.”

I tried to keep my composure, while inside I was ready to burst, “What’s his name? How do I contact him?”

“Dr. Richard Opale, he’s a great surgeon, lots of experience under his belt. I’ll give you his card.”

I leapt up from the bed and wrapped my arms around the doctor, a move that I immediately regretted; a sharp pang shot through my ribs and I clutched my side, wincing, “thank you.” I said trying not to breathe in too deeply, “You have no idea…”

He laughed softly, “Don’t thank me yet.” The chair slipped back across the floor slightly as he got to his feet, “I hope this works out for you Quinn, I really do.”

I beamed, “So do I.”

           

 

The doctor offered over a card and I took it fervently, running my thumb over the raised typography. “I’m sorry, what’s your name again?” I asked a little embarrassed to have forgotten it.

“Stephan Prolleigh” He said in a friendly manner.

“Dr. Prolleigh.” I repeated, “Well thank you.”

I followed the sound of his footsteps as they travelled to the door and halted, “I’ll go let your family know you’re ready.”

            I smiled in acknowledgement and soon I was left to get myself organized for discharge.

 

            Was this really happening? A second chance. The possibilities were endless, I could travel like I had always wanted; experience different cultures, take long tours through historic museums, admire fascinating artwork. Jayce could come with me… I sighed smiling, Jayce. I would be able to look into his eyes for the first time; I would memorize his face, every detail, every imperfection, every laugh line. I could see nature once again, the sheer beauty the trees and landscape possessed. Life would be perfect once again.

 

            I caught myself, cutting off the thoughts of aspirations. I didn’t want to get my hopes up; Prolleigh had said it could take years and even then… Even if the surgery didn’t work, if my body rejected the parts or no suitable match was found, I would still be content. I would have my friends, my family, my life, everything that I had taken for granted, all that I needed in this life to be happy. I didn’t need sight now. I knew I could live a fulfilled life without it, but if there’s that chance, that one chance that I might be able to have it all plus my eyesight, well, there was no way I was going to pass that up.

 

            I smiled after changing into my clothes and gathering my few belongings from the two days spent in this room.

The door clicked open quietly, “Everything okay?” A soft voice spoke, my mothers.

I nodded and moved towards the door, “Perfect.”

 

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[Luna Northstar]

Awwww, I'm so glad everything is working out, and I'm super happy you wrote more!