Page 85 of Champagne Nights

“Remember how I went to Boston last week?” he asked.

“Of course.” I smiled.

“I didn’t go there for business.”

“You didn’t?” I cocked my head.

“No.”

“Then why did you go?”

“I met with a doctor. His name is Dr. Marchetti, and he’s a world-renowned eye specialist.”

Suddenly, my stomach dropped.

“Why did you meet with him?”

“I wanted to know if there was any way he could help you regain your eyesight. He just needs your permission to access your medical records from the accident, but he believes he can restore your vision. He took the wine glass from me, set it down, and grabbed both of my hands. “He said he wants to meet you on Thursday. He’ll be here in New York hosting a seminar.”

I sat there, my heart beating out of my chest. I couldn’t believe what he had just told me.

“Why would you do something like that without talking to me about it first?”

“Because I didn’t want to get your hopes up if he couldn’t help you.”

I was in shock that he would do something like that without talking to me.

“Aren’t you happy? Aubrey, sweetheart, there’s a chance you could get your eyesight back.”

I pulled away from him and got up from the couch. A feeling of discontent washed over me, not to mention an anger that ripped through my body at what he had done.

“You had no right, Ethan. No right at all. This is my life. Not yours,” I sternly spoke.

“Aubrey, I know it’s your life, and I’m trying to help you.”

“I don’t need help. I’m happy with my life the way it is!” I raised my voice.

“Don’t you want to see again? You said the other night that you wished you could see the ocean like you used to, the blue sky, and yourself. My God, sweetheart, if Dr. Marchetti can help you, you could see the world.”

“No. I don’t want to see. This has been my life for more years than I was born. I’m comfortable this way. You just can’t do that, Ethan. FUCK!” I yelled as I placed my hands on my head. “You just can’t go messing with people’s lives.”

“Aubrey, calm down.” I felt the firm grip of his hands around my arms.

“Don’t, Ethan.” I jerked away.

“I thought I was doing something good here. Why can’t you understand that? And to be honest, I don’t get why on earth you wouldn’t want to get your sight back!” he yelled.

“Because that’s for me to decide! Not you! And I suspect you want it for your own selfish reasons!”

“I want this for you, Aubrey!” he shouted. “I want this for us!”

“Us? I thought my being blind didn’t bother you. So, all this time, you were lying to me? You’re no different than any other guy out there!”

“Seriously? Your blindness doesn’t bother me at all. If it did, I wouldn’t be with you.”

“Obviously, it does, or else you wouldn’t have sought out that doctor! Just get out of here, Ethan. I don’t want to see you right now.”

“You don’t want to see me? Guess what, Aubrey? You can’t see me!” He shouted so loudly that I flinched. “Is it so wrong that I would do and give anything to have you see me? To see the way I look at you, to see my smile, and to see how much I fucking love you! Maybe I am being selfish because I want you to see me and see what I look like. Why live in a world of darkness if you don’t have to?”

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