Sapphire Moonlight

Chapter 10: A Shadow of Doubt

The following days were a whirlwind of pre-operative tests and consultations. Shiva, though outwardly composed, felt a churning anxiety gnaw at him. The surgery, a glimmer of hope offered by a renowned ophthalmologist, was both a terrifying prospect and a potential gateway to a world he could only imagine. Would he see Isha, the woman who had become his light in the darkness? Would his feelings for her remain unchanged, or would the ability to see alter his perception entirely?

Isha, burdened by the weight of her secret, found herself walking on eggshells. The joy of their newfound connection was constantly overshadowed by the fear of revelation. She tried to be her usual cheerful self, but a shadow lingered in her eyes, a tremor in her voice that Shiva, in his heightened sensitivity, couldn't help but notice.

As they sat by the open window, the scent of jasmine from the garden filling the air, Shiva, unable to bear the silence any longer, spoke. "Isha," he said, his voice hesitant, "something troubles you. You haven't been yourself lately."

Isha's heart hammered against her ribs. "It's nothing," she lied, her voice barely a whisper.

Shiva reached out, his hand finding hers. "Don't lie to me, Isha. We have a connection, something special, rite?.... You can tell me anything."

Tears welled up in Isha's eyes. Could she confess now, unburden herself of the secret that threatened to destroy everything? But the fear of rejection held her tongue hostage. "It's just... the surgery," she choked out, her voice thick with emotion. "I'm scared for you, Shiva. What if it doesn't work? What if..."

Shiva squeezed her hand gently. "I understand your fear, Isha. But I'm willing to take the risk. The chance to see again, to see you, is worth it."

Isha's breath hitched. "See me?" she whispered, a flicker of hope battling against the fear in her heart.

"Yes, Isha," Shiva replied, his voice filled with a quiet intensity. "To see you, the woman who has filled my world with light and laughter. The woman I love."

The weight on Isha's chest threatened to crush her. The truth, a dam threatening to burst, surged within her. But the vulnerability in Shiva's voice, the raw honesty in his words, held her back. Could she shatter this beautiful connection, this fragile trust they had built, with the truth?

"But what if..." she started, her voice trembling, "what if seeing changes everything? What if the world you see isn't what you expect?"

Shiva cupped her face in his gentle hands, his thumbs tracing the soft outline of her jaw. "Isha," he said, his voice firm yet laced with tenderness, "no matter what the world looks like, it will be a world I experience with you by my side. You are my light, my guide. You've shown me a beauty I never knew existed, a beauty that transcends sight."

His words were a balm to her soul, yet the doubt refused to be completely quelled. "But Shiva," she persisted, her voice barely above a whisper, "what if ......"

A shadow of pain flickered across his face for a fleeting moment before he forced a smile. "Isha," he said gently, "Don't think of what if's..... You are here, you are warm, you are what I want for my entire life time and you are the only woman I love."

Despite his reassurances, a seed of doubt had been planted. Isha knew she couldn't keep living a lie forever. The truth, a heavy weight on her conscience, threatened to erupt at any moment. She needed to find a way to confess, a way to explain the secret that bound her to him, a secret that could shatter their fragile connection.

Ash, sensing the tension, whined and nudged Shiva's hand with his wet nose. Shiva chuckled, a sound that warmed Isha's heart. "Alright, boy, no more serious talks" he said, his voice playful. "Let's have some fun."