A Light In The Dark

A Light In The Dark Part Eighteen

The doctor's words echoed in Percy's mind as they sat in the sterile, bright examination room. His heart raced, a bead of sweat forming on his brow. He glanced at his father, who sat beside him, trying to maintain a composed expression. But Percy knew better—he could see the tension in his dad's clenched jaw, the worry in his eyes.

Dr. Chang sat down across from them, opening the manila folder in front of her. She sighed softly, glancing from Percy to Poseidon. "I want to start by saying this isn't an easy conversation. What we've found... confirms some of our previous suspicions, but there's more to it."

Poseidon straightened, his voice tight. "What does that mean?"

Dr. Chang shifted her gaze to Percy. "Percy, you've been experiencing these episodes—dizzy spells, temporary vision loss, worsening tremors. It's clear that your condition has progressed, and unfortunately, we've identified that this is part of a degenerative neurological disease."

The room felt like it dropped several degrees as the words sank in. Degenerative. Neurological. Disease. Percy's mind raced to catch up. He'd known things were getting worse, but hearing it spelled out felt like a punch to the gut.

Poseidon's hand tightened on Percy's shoulder. "What... what does that mean for him?"

Dr. Chang's expression softened. "It means that the symptoms you're experiencing will continue to progress. The tremors, the muscle weakness, the dizziness—they're all part of this disease. We don't have a clear diagnosis yet, but it's acting similarly to advanced cases of neurodegenerative disorders, and we're seeing more signs of nerve damage, which is why your vision is being affected."

Percy's throat felt tight, and he could barely find his voice. "Haw mush wurse iz it goin' t'get?"

Dr. Chang didn't answer immediately. She looked down at her notes before speaking again. "It's hard to say for certain. Every case is different, but given the speed at which your symptoms have progressed over the last year, we need to prepare for the possibility that your mobility will continue to decline, as well as your independence."

Percy felt like the air had been knocked out of him. He was already in a wheelchair full time  and now... it was going to get worse? How was that even possible?

Poseidon leaned forward, his face pale. "There has to be something we can do. Medications? Treatments?"

"We can try to manage the symptoms," Dr. Chang said gently. "Percy's already on medications to help with the tremors and muscle spasms, but there isn't a cure for this type of condition. The best we can do is slow it down and keep Percy comfortable."

Comfortable. The word echoed in Percy's head like a cruel joke. He didn't want to be comfortable—he wanted to be better. He wanted his life back.

"Is he going to... lose his sight completely?" Poseidon asked, his voice shaking slightly.

Dr. Chang looked at Percy, then back at Poseidon. "It's possible. The episodes of vision loss seem to be linked to the progression of the disease. Right now, they're temporary, but as the nerve damage increases, there's a chance that it could become permanent."

Percy's chest tightened. He had only just started experiencing those episodes, and they already terrified him. The thought of never being able to see again—of living in total darkness—was overwhelming.

"What do we do now?" Poseidon asked, his voice hollow.

Dr. Chang leaned forward, her tone gentle but firm. "Right now, we focus on making things easier for Percy. Physical therapy will help slow the muscle degeneration, and we'll adjust his medications as needed. He must have support—emotionally and physical."

Percy could feel his dad's gaze on him, but he couldn't bring himself to look back. The enormity of what the doctor was saying was too much to process all at once.

"Percy," Dr. Chang said softly, drawing his attention back to her. "I know this is a lot to take in, and I'm here to answer any questions you have. We'll be monitoring you closely, and I want you to know that you're not alone in this."

Percy nodded, though his mind was still reeling. He wasn't sure what to ask—how could anyone be prepared for news like this?

"I'll leave you both to talk for a few minutes," Dr. Chang said, standing up and giving them a small, sympathetic smile before stepping out of the room.

The silence that followed was deafening.

Percy finally looked over at his dad, who was staring down at his hands, his brow furrowed with worry. For the first time, Poseidon looked uncertain, unsure of what to say or do.

"I'm sorry, Percy," Poseidon whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "I didn't... I didn't know it was this bad."

Percy hated how his voice was failing him more and more luring his words together. "It's not yer fault, Dad." Percy said quietly, though his voice wavered with the tremors."I didn't want ya t'worry. I thought it'd... get better."

Poseidon's eyes glistened with unshed tears. "We'll get through this," he said firmly, though there was a tremor in his voice that matched Percy's. "I don't care what the doctors say. We'll find a way."

Percy forced a weak smile, though deep down, he wasn't so sure. The reality of his condition was sinking in, and the future looked more uncertain than ever.

The ride home was quiet. Poseidon kept glancing over at Percy, concern etched deeply into his features. Percy stared out the window, watching the world pass by in a blur, though his mind was elsewhere—thinking about the future, about what life would be like as the disease progressed. He didn't want to think about losing his sight, or his ability to move at all. It was a terrifying thought, one that lingered in the back of his mind like a shadow.

When they arrived home, Adam greeted them at the door, immediately sensing the heavy atmosphere. Poseidon gave him a brief rundown of the appointment, his voice flat as he explained the doctor's findings. Adam's face fell, his usual calm demeanor giving way to concern.

"Percy," Adam said gently, looking over at him. "You okay?"

Percy nodded, though the weight in his chest felt crushing. "Yea... jus' tired."

Adam gave him a sad smile. "I'll get you settled in, alright?"

Percy let Adam wheel him inside, his body aching from the day's events. He felt like a stranger in his skin, disconnected from everything around him.

Once he was back in his room, Percy let out a long, shaky breath. He hated how helpless he felt, how his body no longer felt like his own. The tremors were relentless, and now... the thought of losing his sight again was terrifying. What if the next episode lasted even longer? What if it didn't come back at all?

Adam helped him get comfortable in bed, and Poseidon hovered by the door, his face pale and drawn. Percy could tell his dad was trying to be strong, but the cracks were starting to show.

"Try to get some rest," Adam said softly. "I'll be here if you need anything."

Percy nodded, though he wasn't sure if he'd be able to sleep. As Adam and Poseidon left the room, he closed his eyes, trying to calm the storm of thoughts in his mind.

But even as exhaustion pulled him toward sleep, the fear remained. He didn't know what the future held, but for the first time, he was truly afraid of what might come next.