Fate

13

Chapter 13

"Come to me, Julia."

I opened my eyes and instantly, my arms ached. I looked around me and saw wires and tubes snaking over my body. Machines surrounded the hospital bed I was in. Different beeps filled the silence.

"Julia, I'm here."

I looked to my left, toward where the sound was coming from, and saw Andreas waiting in the doorway. I was in a white room with bright lights. It looked like a hospital room. Where my nightmares were real.

He smiled when our gazes met and held out a hand for me to take.

I screamed and pulled the wires and tubes away from me. I yanked multiple IVs from my arms and kicked the blankets away. Just as I was sitting up, he walked over to me and leaned against the bed.

"Come to me and everything will be okay."

"I don't trust you."

He reached out and brushed my hair away from my face. I flinched and squeezed my eyes shut tightly.

When I opened my eyes, a hand was stroking my hair and I couldn't see anything. I smacked the hand away and tried getting to my feet. Only my foot got caught in a blanket and I fell.

"Julia, it's ok. It's just me." Aryan said, his voice close to me on the floor. His hand touched my arm and I jumped, not because it was him but because I couldn't anticipate his touch. "Come lay down."

I laid down with him on the couch, putting myself between the back of the couch and Aryan's body. I pulled the blanket up to my chin and buried my face in Aryan, wanting to hide myself as best I could. He held me as I cried myself to sleep.

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"Julia, lift your head. I'd like to take a look at your eyes now."

I squeezed Aryan's hand, letting him know just how mad I was. Dr. Warren was examining me, trying to figure out what was wrong with me. Or trying to. It didn't seem like he was succeeding well.

Aryan, who was sitting behind me on the couch, couldn't stop laughing under his breath and in my ear. He thought my anger was funny and couldn't understand why I was so upset. As long as I was being taken care of, he was happy.

I was not.

Dr. Warren pulled my eyelid up on each eye then pulled back, his shoes making noises on the floor like he was wearing high heels. "Eyes on a blind person are vacant and cloudy. Hers are not. I don't understand how she is blind right now."

I sighed and squeezed Aryan's hand hard.

Lucy spoke up and I was sure Dr. Warren was talking to her. Right in front of me. "Do you think there's any permanent damage done?"

"No, I don't. I can't tell what it is without my equipment."

"Do you think you'd be able to help her if you knew what was going on?"

"The chances would be better, certainly."

"I'm not going to another hospital." I said, crossing my arms over my chest.

"Julia-" Lucy started.

I cut her off. "No, Lucy."

I knew Lucy wanted to say more and I was sure this time it was going to be an argument. I knew Lucy was tired of me saying no when all she wanted to do was help but I couldn't step another foot in a hospital. I'd been in too many to be comfortable going this time.

"Luce, give her some time to think, ok? We can talk later." Kellan said, his voice lowered.

Lucy sighed, just like I did. "Fine. I need to make a few calls."

Holden started talking from across the room but I couldn't make out what he was saying. Dr. Warren started talking and I was sure they were either talking about me or about doctor things.

"Julia, why are you so stubborn?" Aryan said, speaking for the first time since Dr. Warren came into the room.

I turned around and attempted, poorly, to look in his direction. "This is my body. My life. I'm not going to let everyone around me make these serious decisions for me."

"What if you die?"

I said nothing.

He leaned in close to me and put his hands on the sides of my face. "I can't lose you, Julia."

"Every time I go to a hospital, something bad happens to me. I'm tired of being scared all the time."

"I'm sorry." He whispered, his mouth close to mine. He put his forehead against mine and I wished so badly I could see his expression.

"What do I do?"

"I don't want to tell you what to do. I know you wouldn't listen anyway but I think you should try everything. Every option they give you. I hate seeing you so scared and hurt and helpless. I want the old Julia back."

"I don't... I don't know if-if I can do that." I whispered, tears in my eyes.

"Let me help you."

"Promise you won't leave me."

"I promise you, Julia. 100%."

I nodded slowly and he pressed his lips into mine.

"I love you, Julia."

My eyes snapped opened and I wanted to scream. Of all times, why did I have to be blind?

Aryan must have had his eyes closed because he didn't move. His forehead was still on mine. Now, tears were clashing with mine.

I kissed him, this time harder and more passionately than ever. "I love you too."