Page 95 of Champagne Nights

“Now how many?”

It was so blurry that I couldn’t really make it out.

“I don’t know.”

While holding the same fingers up, he slowly walked towards me.

“Tell me when you can see how many fingers I’m holding up.”

“Four.”

“Very good.”

He approached me, sat on the other side of the bed, and placed his hand on mine.

“The surgery was a success. But it’s going to take time. It could take months, but your vision should get a little better every day. You’re going to need some help learning to see again. I’m not too concerned about colors, shapes, numbers, and various objects because you learned all that before the accident. Your brain has to readapt to its visual surroundings. It needs to retrain itself. Don’t get too frustrated if things don’t come to you. You need to stay here overnight for observation and if all checks out well, you can go back to your hotel tomorrow and fly back to New York on Sunday.”

Chapter Thirty-Six

Ethan

I stayed with Aubrey at the hospital all night. There was no way I was leaving her. I had briefly left the room to go and get us some coffee, and when I came back, I found her in the bathroom, staring at herself in the mirror.

Aubrey

I wanted to wait until I was alone to see myself in the mirror. After Ethan left to get some coffee, I climbed out of bed and went to the bathroom ten steps away. It took me a minute to be brave enough to flip the light switch, for I was scared of who would be staring back at me. Placing my hand on the switch, I closed my eyes and flipped it up. Taking in a deep breath, I slowly opened my eyes. Was this me? The last time I saw myself in a mirror was when I was eight years old and had long blonde braids. Images of that little girl came to my mind, and I could see the shadow of her in the mirror. I’d grown into this woman that I only knewfrom the inside. It was strange seeing myself after all these years. I felt like a stranger was staring back at me. A person I didn’t visually recognize, and it freaked me the fuck out for a moment. Until Ethan walked in.

Ethan

She looked frightened, like a child looking at a stranger. I placed my hands on her shoulders and smiled at her through the mirror.

“Didn’t I tell you that you were gorgeous?”

“This is so strange to me, Ethan. The last time I looked in a mirror, I was a child—a little girl. And now, I’m this woman.”

“Yes, sweetheart. You’re this beautiful woman both inside and out.”

Tears started to fall from her eyes as she turned to me and buried her face into my chest.

“It’s okay, baby. Let’s get you back in bed.”

Just as I helped her back in bed, Wanda, her nurse, walked in, shaking a small cup with a pill in it.

“I have a little something for you to take, Aubrey. Hold out your hand.”

“What is this?”

“It’s a little something to help you sleep. Dr. Marchetti ordered it for you. Right now, your brain is on visual overload, and you won’t be able to unwind.” She handed her a cup of water.

Aubrey popped the pill in her mouth and chased it down with water.

“Get some sleep.” Wanda smiled. “Are you staying with her?” she asked me.

“Yes.”

“Good man. Do you want a cot?”

“No. I’ll be sleeping in this bed with her.”

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