Page 96 of Light in Your Eyes
Kellan sighs. "Jaxon always makes sure that this place is cleaned regularly. He paid someone to do that."
Kellan steps toward the patio. I follow him, guiding him toward it because he still needs to readjust to his surroundings after all these years.
The wind blows through our skin the moment our feet step onto the outdoor area at the back of the cabin. The deck overlooking the lake has a passage for us to walk closer to the water, and I almost cry because of how beautiful thesight is.
I stare at Kellan, wishing that he could see this again.
"Will you help me walk toward the end of the deck?" he asks.
"Of course," I say and do as he said.
While we're walking along the wooden concrete, he asks, "It's about time for sunset, isn't it?"
I stare at the sky, and indeed, it's about time that the sun sets.
I hold Kellan's hand tightly while we're walking closer to the end of the deck. The water is already on our sides, so I have to be careful not to let him fall.
We stop and sit at the end of it to enjoy the moment. I dip my toe into the water. It's not that cold, just the perfect temperature.
I lay my head on Kellan's shoulder, staring at the view before us and wishing again that a miracle would happen so that he could get his sight back. I unknowingly let a tear fall from my eye because of this overwhelming feeling, and I'm afraid that he will notice it because it drops on his shoulder.
"Tell me about it," he says as I secretly wipe my eye. "Tell me about the sunset. What do you see? Is it still as beautiful as I remember?"
I never heard Kellan say the word beautiful before—the word seems too flowery for a person with a cold exterior like him—so the sunset here must be really special for him. Of course, he used to watch it with the people he loved—his family.
"It still is." I gaze at the sunset.
He can't see it, so I'm trying my best to describe it.
"The sky is changing colors, and the sun is getting closer to the horizon," I say. "The golden disk almost touches the surface of the water. The color of the sky is a mixture of orange, yellow, and flamboyant pink. It's vivid, but not too bright. Just gazing at it makes me feel warm."
I inhale the surrounding air, feeling my chest tighten. Kellan gazes at the sky, in the same direction, but I don't know what he's thinking about. He doesn't look sad. Instead, he looks as if he's contented. I expect him to smile in any second, but it doesn't happen.
"I've been seeing black for such a long time," he says. "I can no longer remember the colors."
My heart feels like it's falling into a pit. My eyes start to brim with tears again.
As if he can understand how devastated I am after hearing that, Kellan places his palm on my cheek and shakes his head.
"Don't be sad for me." He stares into me, his voice hoarse. "You get to see how beautiful it is, and that's why I brought you here. I want you to see it, Layla. I want you to see it for me."
I hold his hand on my cheek. "Do you miss it?" I whisper brokenly.
He nods. "I do. I do miss the sunsets that I can no longer see. But I don't need it anymore, especially now."
The corner of his lips curves up, and I wonder if I'm imagining it.
Yet, Kellan indeed looks contented. He doesn't seem as sad as I am.
He turns his head toward the water. "I always wanted to come here again, but Jaxon was always busy. I didn'twant to come here alone. But now, I'm here with you."
I stare at him, thinking about how lonely he'd felt during all those years he waited for Jaxon.
"Layla," he whispers.
"Hm?"
He faces me again. "Do you think that my brother will ever come back home?"
