Page 89 of Champagne Nights

“Thank you, Dr. Perry, but I don’t want to waste your time. I’m sure you’re very busy.”

“Actually, I’m not. Speaking here today was the only thing I scheduled, so I’m not going to the office.”

I didn’t know if talking to her was the right thing to do. I’d spent so much time the past few days talking to my Aunt Charlotte, Penelope, and Ian that I was tired of reliving what had happened between Ethan and me. But she was a professional, and maybe she could offer advice on how to stop feeling like I did.

“Ethan broke up with me after an argument we had. He did something that really hurt me and made me see that he wasn’t the man I thought he was.”

“What did he do?”

“He contacted a doctor who could possibly help me get my eyesight back. He did it without even telling me and then came home and sprang it on me out of nowhere. It was sneaky, undermining, and it made me very angry.”

“Why did you get so angry that he did that?”

“Because he had no right.” I looked down. “This is my life, not his. He can’t love me like this. That’s why he sought out that doctor. He wants me to get my eyesight back for him. He told me that he wants me to see him.”

“Is that so wrong?” she asked.

“Not really. In a way, I get it, but he had no right to do what he did. If he can’t be with me the way I am, then there’s no point in us being together.”

“Let me ask you something, Aubrey. Do you want to be able to see again?”

“I think about it sometimes. But losing my eyesight was my fate. It was my punishment and something I made peace with many years ago.”

“I’m sorry, but I don’t understand what you mean by ‘it was your punishment.’”

My heart started racing at the thought of telling Dr. Perry about the accident.

“The accident was my fault and the reason my parents are dead. We were on our way to the beach, and I couldn’t wait to get there. It was a Saturday, and my dad decided to go into the office first. He came home later than he said he would, so we got a late start. I remember being angry at him for it, and as we were on our way, it started to pour down rain when it had been sunny and beautiful earlier in the afternoon. He said there was no use in going, and he was going to turn around. My heart was broken because I had been promised all week that we would go to the beach. It was all I looked forward to. I started crying and yelling at him from the backseat, and I told him that it was his fault because he always put work in front of his family. My mom told me that I needed to calm down and that we’d go another day. I wouldn’t accept that, and I wouldn’t stop crying. My father turned and looked at me and told me to stop or else. I’ll never forget the look of anger on his face. He drifted into the other lane into oncoming traffic, and my mother screamed at him to look out. He swerved, but it was too late. I had my hand on the seatbelt buckle, and during the impact, I must have pressed it and released the seatbelt because I was thrown from the car. I woke up in the hospital to a world of darkness. The doctors told my aunt that the paramedics found me lying on the ground a few feet away from the car. I was barely alive, but they managed to save me.”

“I’m so sorry, Aubrey,” Dr. Perry spoke.

“So you see, Dr. Perry, the accident was my fault. If I had just accepted the fact that we couldn’t go to the beach that day, things would be different. My parents would be alive, and I wouldn’t have lost my eyesight.”

“You were a child. The accident wasn’t your fault.”

“But it was, and losing my eyesight is something that I have to live with for the rest of my life. It’s my punishment. Nothing can bring my parents back, so why should I be able to see again?” A tear fell from my eye.

“And you became angry at Ethan for wanting to take that punishment away from you?”

“Yes. I’m living my life the way I’m supposed to.”

“Oh, Aubrey. I wish to God you didn’t feel that way. That accident wasn’t your fault, just like Sophia’s death wasn’t Ethan’s. Didn’t you tell him that it wasn’t his fault?”

“Yes.”

“How is that any different? Ethan believed that his actions drove Sophia into that ocean that night, just like you believe your actions caused that accident. So, how can you say that Ethan wasn’t responsible? There’s no difference between the way you feel and the way he felt.”

“It just is.”

“No, sweetheart, it isn’t. If you were to tell him about the accident, he would tell you it wasn’t your fault, just like you told him it wasn’t his fault. You’ve lived over half your life being visually impaired, and now, with today’s advanced technology, there’s someone who could potentially help you see again. It’s time to let the punishment go, Aubrey. If this doctor can help you, let him.”

I heard my classroom door open and Ian’s voice.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know you had company,” he spoke.

“Ian, this is Dr. Perry. Dr. Perry, this is my friend, Ian.”

“Nice to meet you, Ian. I’m going to go. Give some thought to what we talked about and if you need anything, please call me.”

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