Two Eyes Down

The start

"Sweetheart, it's time to get up." Demi's voice cooed from above me.

"I don't wanna. Can we just stay here and cuddle?" I whine.

"No, we cannot. I'm not letting you miss out on this, now come on baby girl."

We had just gotten in the car when Demi spoke. " are you- are you worried?"

"Not very much. I have to be to a certain point. I mean, these people are sticking metal tools and lasers in my eyes."

"Oh."

The car rides have never been so quiet. Even when we weren't a couple, or hardly knew each other, we always found something to talk about. I guess not today, nothing is really normal about today. The only regular thing is the soft hand holding mine. But even that was different, Demi was squeezing my hand harder, like if she didn't I'd wander away from her. Her talkative, lose personality? That's missing too, I don't know what happened but-

"We're here." Demi says, interrupting my thoughts.

She unbuckles my seatbelt for me and runs out of her side of the car, slamming the door behind her, to open mine for me. She takes my hand once I'm out and closes the door, locking the car once we start to walk away. She clings onto my side wrapping her arm around mine, holding hands at the end.

"Natalie Foster." Demi says to the desk person busily typing on a keyboard.

The typing stops and shuffling begins before the person actually speaks in a sweet, feminine voice. "Hello, these are the forms you will need to fill out with Miss Foster. You should be moved to a room as soon as one opens."

Demi pulls me and has me sit next to her in a plush chair that exhales whenever weight is put on it. "Ok. Who is the person or people they should call if anything happens?"

"You or Monica." I say quickly. "I want one of you to be here. That's it, even if I won't be awake to know, I still want to be sure no one else will know until I wake up."

"And have you had any headaches lately?"

"Not really."

Question after question, most I find unnecessary. Including my mood and and how I've been physically. I'm having surgery on the eyes that don't work, so where are all these damn questions fitting in? Eventually Demi huffs, standing and walking away, leaving me alone where I sit.

"Thank you." The secretary says warmly.

Seconds later, Demi is back, sitting with an exhale of the chair and gripping my hand the moment I'm reachable. "Promise me you'll be okay."

"Demi, I want to, but I can't. I cannot control these procedures."

"Natalie, just, do it. Don't remind me how wrong this could go. I need it."

That's when I hear the quiet shaking within her heavy breathes, the grip she holds on my hand tightening in tension. She's been too focused on me to fully absorb what was happening. It must be terrifying hearing the news days before and having to bring me here, unsure how it would turn out. I stroke the back of her hand with my thumb, trying to soothe her in any way, but she only starts to actually cry. Not only her voice, but her body now shakes. I get up and sit on her lap, I don't care who was here to see. We both needed this. I grab the sides of her neck and feel her focus on me as I turn my head toward hers.

"It's okay, you're okay, I'm okay now big I'll be great when they unwrap the cloth from my eyes and I see you. You, Demi, and you alone will be all I think about while I'm in there. Don't you fret, love. I'll always be there for you, no matter what happens."

"I'm scared."

"I know you're scared. I'm scared too. But we can be scared together."

I lean in, kissing her nose then her lips slowly, trying to fit every emotion I have for her into it. Demi kisses back almost instantly, grabbing my neck and pulling our faces closer. I don't know how I got Demi, but I sure want to keep her.

"Ok?" I ask.

"Ok." Demi says, nodding slightly.

"Maybe ok will be our always." I joke, trying to lighten the mood.

"Or," she says holding my face centimeters from hers. "We can go where the wind takes us, no plans, no cheesy phrases, just us and our stupidity."

"Sounds good."

"Natalie Foster." A male voice calls. I lift myself off of Demi and help her up, wrapping my arm around her waist as she guides us to where we're directed.

The noises I heard walking down the hallway terrified me. The beeping, the sound of medical talk as nurses and doctors walked by me, the sound of gurneys, moans, it's terrifying when that's all. When there is no reassurance that the patients surrounding the noise is still breathing.

"If you would just have a seat right here." He says. "The doctor should be right with you. He's just finishing up with another patient." Then his footsteps fade out of the room and Demi and I are left alone.

I vaguely hear a sniffle and automatically reach up to wipe away the tear she shed. "It's ok, Demi. No need to cry. If anything shouldn't I be crying?"

"I just want you to be safe."

"I will, sweetheart, I will. These people know what they're doing."

"Hello!" A familiar voice says. "Wonderful seeing you again, Natalie. Who has brought you here today?"

Demi stands and I hear her walk to him. "I'm Demi, Natalie's girlfriend."

"Well it is wonderful meeting you as well. Shall we do a quick rundown of what is going to be happening?"

"Yes please. I want to know as much as I can. I also need to be here when you unwrap her eyes. So does Monica."Demi says formally. I bet business Demi looks sexy.

"Well, today, we are changing her genes with various tools and finding the one that is stopping her sight. Then on Monday, we are going to do a laser surgery to her eyes. Both need anesthesia, and have risks that include an underscore or overscore-"

"Don't remind me. Natalie told me. Are you ready for her?"Demi interrupted firmly.

"Yes. We set up a room. You might as well go home, Natalie won't be able to speak much until at least tomorrow afternoon."

"I'll be here," Demi said, turning to me. Good luck, sweetheart. I love you and I'll come as soon as I can."

"I love You too, Demi. I'll be waiting."

And with one final kiss and hug, I'm rushed out of the room, to another, given anesthesia, and out I went, to the sound of Dr Dalebrooks speaking to his team.
----------------------------------------------that sucked. My keyboard sucks. Everything sucks. Sorry, had to get that out there.