Chapter 5

The plane touched down in Northgate in the afternoon.

The patient companion I'd booked ahead of time was waiting for me at the exit.

Her name was Lucy Fox, and she kept a hand on my arm the whole way out.

"There's a slope up ahead. Take it slow."

She glanced at my cane and took me to a medical supply store nearby first.

The clerk brought over a few canes and let me test them for weight and length.

The one I settled on cost just over a hundred.

I ran my fingers over the price tag that hadn't been peeled off yet, and out of nowhere I almost laughed.

So this was all it took to fix. And I'd spent all that time waiting for a man to fix it for me.

Once I was checked in, Lucy made up the bed for me.

"What do you feel like eating tonight? I'll grab it while I'm downstairs."

I thought about it.

"Anything's fine. But I've been wanting an orange soda."

A little over ten minutes later, a cold bottle was pressed into my hand.

The cap twisted off with a soft fizz of bubbles.

I took a sip. Sour and sweet.

I'd brought it up to Abraham for a solid week.

Every time he'd said, "I'll get you one next time."

Lucy heard me say it once and picked it up on the way.

My phone buzzed a few times.

Abraham again, voice messages.

"Are you at your grandma's yet? Why aren't you answering?"

A moment later, another one.

"Still mad?"

"I came down a little hard, sure, but you can't just throw out 'let's break up' every time something bothers you."

And of course he didn't forget to add:

"Have your grandma pick plenty of greens. Pam's parents want to try some too."

I switched the phone to silent and stopped thinking about him.

Over three days, I went through a whole set of exams.

The doctors checked my corneas again and again before they finalized the surgical plan.

The night before, a nurse came to confirm my information.

"No family accompanying you tomorrow, correct?"

"Correct."

"Are you scared?"

I paused.

"A little. But I trust all of you, and I trust myself."

The nurse tucked the blanket in for me.

"It's normal to be scared."

"Someone will take you into the operating room tomorrow, and we'll all be here when you come out."

The next morning, the wheels of the gurney turned slowly.

I could smell the disinfectant and heard the operating room doors open.

I'd imagined it countless times.

That once I could see again, the very first thing I'd look at would be Abraham.

But as they wheeled me in, it suddenly struck me.

Who I saw first didn't matter anymore.

I just wanted to see this world again.