Zac sat idly on the plastic bed. His feet absently swinging back and forth, hitting the metal bars under the distasteful and uncomfortable object.
Doctor Walsh shined the penlight into his eyes, while he continued to kick the metal bar rhythmically.
“Anything new or changing with your vision, Zac?” He asked as he put his penlight back into his white coat.
Zac shrugged his shoulders sluggishly. “Sometimes I think I see things… just shadows again. But then they disappear.”
He shrugged again. “I think it’s my imagination.” He stated. “I think I’m just trying to force myself into seeing again.”
“Well, I’m going to go talk with you parents.” He said as he started towards the door. “Then you will be free to go.”
Zac shrugged once more. These routine check-ups were really starting to bug him. It had been four and a half months now since his accident, and two weeks since their first concert performance with him blind.
He thought back recklessly on that day’s events as he tiredly started to lie down on the bed. Allowing himself to close his eyes, he yawned, and quietly started dozing off.
“Mister and Misses Hanson?” Doctor Walsh said excitedly.
The couple looked up from their discussion with their two oldest sons, waiting for their third.
“Yes?” Mr. Hanson asked curiously as his wife clung to his arm instinctively.
He smiled proudly at them, “Zac’s eyes dilated today.” He stated enthusiastically.
Taylor shook his head, “What does that mean exactly?”
“It means, that Zac may get his site back soon.” He told him smiling.
Isaac looked up quickly, and searched for a clue or reason not to believe what he had just heard. But the smiling faces of his parents proved otherwise. Immediately he was standing and smiling as well, “Did you already tell him that?” He questioned happily.
Doctor Walsh frowned slightly and shook his head, “I don’t think we should tell him.” He admitted.
“Well why not?” Isaac asked impatiently. Unable to wait until he could tell his brother that he would be getting his site back in the days to come.
“He’s already told me about how he sometimes thinks he see things.” He told them quietly as his brow furrowed in thought, “If we tell him now, he may strain himself even more on trying to see.” He was silent for a second, “And possibly set him back in all his achievements.”
A worried looked passed between Mr. and Mrs. Hanson. It had taken him so long to get where he was now… they couldn’t throw him backwards again. It was unanimously agreed. They would not tell him.
But Isaac was still reluctant to it all in the beginning, but once it was mentioned that Zac could lose all of what he had worked so hard to accomplish, he bit his tongue.
Now walking down the tiny hallway to the examining room, Isaac thought it all over in his head. If he did tell Zac about the progress that he’s made, and nothing happened, he’d be crushed.
Everything that he had strived to accomplish would have been for nothing. Not nothing, but not for something he actually wanted. Becoming blind was not his choice.
Taking in a deep breath to collect himself, Isaac slowly opened the door with a smile placed on his lips. But the site inside threw him slightly off guard.
Zac was asleep on the examination table, looking as angelic and childish and vulnerable as ever.
Gulping, Isaac moved around to the side of the bed, and prepared himself to wake his brother. This never should have happened to him. He thought guiltily. He doesn't deserve this.
I do...
