The Sun in Her Eyes

42: Drawn From Memories

Isang linggo matapos mabalitaan ni Harika ang tungkol sa pagkatakas ni Slayter sa bilangguan—na paniguradong hawak na ng pulisya ang paghahanap dito ay nakukuha na niyang mapalagay sa bawat araw na lilipas, lalo pa't ang mga taong nakapaligid sa kanya ay walang ibang binabanggit kung hindi mga positibong bagay na maaari niyang panghawakan sa mga oras na pinamamalagi niya sa mansyon.

Nabawasan na ang pagkabagot na madalas niyang maramdaman sa mansyon noon dahil napakarami nang iba't ibang taong mahahalaga sa kanya ang nakakausap at binibisita siya. Ang headmaid na nag-aalaga sa kanya na pangkaraniwan naman nitong ginagawa. She had a good time with Waki every second they were together. She and Lizbeth uses the internet to channel their gossiping side from their hated celebrities and making it as a laughing matter. Melanie brings homemade pastries, every time she visits. If she needed to go outdoors and Waki wasn't available to drive her away, she could phone Manong Liro. Si Chelsea at Stella ang mga bisitang hindi niya inaasahan na kabaligtaran kung paano niya isipin ang pagbisita ni Van Doren na kailanman ay hindi na nagtangkang bisitahin siya ulit matapos noong nakaraang si Venus ang nakausap nito sa gate. Nevertheless, she has been happy with everything in her life. It helped her get through it.

Soon after Harika got out of bed to start another day, a faint glow flared in the center of her field of vision, illuminating the months-long darkness she had been experiencing. Isang umagang ikinabigla niya at ng lahat. Although she could only see one tiny light, she still prayed for it every night before going to sleep. Noong una, akala niya'y isang panaginip lang iyon subalit nang matantong gising siya at tunay na nakikita ang tila ba kislap sa gitna ng kanyang mga paningin, binigyan siya nito ng pag-asang malapit nang mawala sa kanya. Masaya siyang ibinalita iyon sa buong mansyon at sa kaibigang si Lizbeth, pati na rin kay Waki. Kung puwede lang ay mag-undertime ito noong umagang iyon upang makita siya sa napakalaking improvement na iyon ng kanyang mga paningin ay gagawin nito. Isasaalang-alang talaga ng boyfriend niya ang lahat para sa kanya.

She requested a ride from Manong Liro to Dr. Yetter's clinic so that she could share the good news there. Sa parehong umaga ring iyon ay nakarating agad sila sa espesiyalistang ilang buwan na siyang sinusuri, pinalalakas ang kompiyansa at inaalagaan.

Two patients had been in line ahead of Harika when the nurse called her. She ushered her inside where Dr. Yetter was waiting.

"Talaga? That's great news!" Maging ang doktor ay hindi maitago ang saya nang mabanggit ni Harika ang tungkol sa naging pagbabago ng kanyang mga mata. "How do you feel, except from your vision?"

"I feel so ecstatic, Doc. Ilang buwan kong hinihiling ang moment na 'to. Mas tumaas ang pag-asa kong makita ulit ang mundo..." Her chest felt as though an axe had been removed from a fence in relief.

"You'll get to see the world once more... that much of a certain." She felt a gentle tap from Dr. Yetter, whose smiles were filled with empathy for her. "I must remind you of something, Harika. Regaining your sight back isn't a walk in the park. You may experience some minimal perceptual confusion dealing with the transitioning impact after a vision loss, but it won't be as severe as if you were born blind, which you weren't. Patients who recover from blindness can experience significant to total agnosia, or significant disorientation with their visual awareness."

Nakikinig lang si Harika. Her eyes were blindly fixed on the wall of the clinic. She had Dr. Yetter by her side.

"Magpatuloy ka lang sa current routine na ginagawa mo. Do whatever makes you happy. Live a normal life, worry less and cut out negativity. Ipinapangako kong makikita mo ulit ang mga bagay na ilang buwan mo nang gustong makita ulit..."

After a few inquiries and examinations, Harika left Dr. Yetter's clinic and told Manong Liro to accompany her to an ice cream parlor nearby so they could celebrate her eyes' progress. Nang makauwi sila, nakahain na ang masasarap na pagkain sa mesa at naroroon si Lizbeth, Waki, Melanie at ang mag-inang Sullivan na hinihintay siya.