Blinded by You

Chapter Twenty Two- Eyes are the windows of the soul

*Day of the surgery*

Ellen's POV

"Harry's here," my mother announced and I tried to hide my tears as I laid on my back in the room buzzing with people and energy.

"Hi baby," he doted, grabbing my hand and leaning down to kiss me.

"Hi," I sniffled.

"It's okay. Don't be scared. Your mum, dad, brothers and I will all be here when you wake up." His thumb rubbed against the back of my hand and I slightly smiled.

"Ellen, you can have one person in here with you while we do the surgery. Usually people pick a parent," Dr. Prochaska said nicely.

"Harry," I replied firmly. "Harry can stay."

"You'll have to scrub up."

"Okay," Harry sighed, leaning down to kiss my forehead before he let go of my hand. The surgery was set to start in eight minutes and my heart was pounding against my ribs. Hearing everyone clear out and Harry come back in after a few minutes, I grasped tightly onto his hand.

"Take a deep breath," he murmured. "You're going to be fine." I could hear the doctors and anesthesiologist moving around and took four or five deep breaths.

"We're ready," the anesthesiologist announced. Harry kissed my hand and I took one last deep breath.

Harry's POV:

"I need you to count slowly backward from ten, okay sweetie?" The anesthesiologist smiled. Ellen simply nodded.

"10...9...8...7......6.....5-" and she was out. Her hand went limp in mine, but I still held on. Watching them do the surgery, I sat there quietly before taking a breath to speak.

"So, if all goes well, she should have perfect vision?"

"Yes," the doctor nodded as he grabbed another tool. Staying quiet for the rest of the surgery, I fought back tears as they bandaged her up.

"We're gonna take her to the recovery room now. The anesthesia should wear off in about ten minutes. Just so it isn't too stressful, why don't you stay with her when she wakes up?" Dr. Prochaska smiled.

"Okay," I simply nodded and walked out of the operating room, taking off the things I had put on to stay in there. The recovery area was very calming with walls painted a soft beige, as well as a waterfall like wall facing the entrance. Following behind the nurses pushing Ellen's bed, I felt immediately calm as they got her set up. The quiet was killing me. There was a slight knock on the door and I saw her father crack it open.

"Hi," he whispered with a slight smile.

"Hello, Mr. Canniff."

"How's she doing?"

"Good, I guess," I shrugged. There was an awkward silence and he took a breath to speak.

"I want to thank you, Harry."

"For what, sir?" There was no reason for him to thank me. I was the one who should've been thanking him.

"You lit a fire in Ellen. You came into her life and showed her how beautiful she was. I think it was better coming from you because whenever we said it to her, she said that we had to say that, because we're her family," he chuckled. "But you, you changed her Harry. In more ways than you'll ever know."

"Thank you for having such a beautiful daughter who's taught me so much in such a short amount of time. She's brought so much joy into my life and she's changed me as well." Feeling Ellen's grip tighten on my hand, I looked to her beginning to wake up.

"Harry?" she whispered, her voice hoarse.

"I'm here," I smiled, tears filling my eyes. Hearing another tiny knock on the door, the doctor emerged.

"Hi Ellen," he beamed. "How we feeling?"

"Shit-tastic," she groaned. The three of us began to laugh and the doctor looked at his clipboard.

"That's good. We did something right," he joked. "Looking forward, you can go home today. However, the bandages need to stay on for a week just to make sure everything healed correctly. In a week, come back and we'll see how pretty those eyes of yours are. Okay?" She simply nodded and he walked back out of the room.

"If you'll help her, I'll get the paperwork," her dad smiled.

"Okay," I nodded and he closed the door quietly behind him.

"I want some food," Ellen groaned, clutching her stomach.

"We'll get some food on the way home." I couldn't help but chuckle.

"Do I have to go home in this? I need a shower."

"I'm gonna get you taken care of. I'll go get your clothes from your mum and we can get you dressed," I laughed as I stood and bent down to kiss her forehead. "I'll be back."

"Okay terminator," she laughed and I quickly made my way toward her mum. Carrying the bag of her things, I practically Olympic speed walked back to her room and saw the nurse removing her IV.

"Thank you," Ellen smiled. She seemed to be perking up. I wasn't gone for that long was I? Waiting until the nurse was out of the room, I sat the bag on the edge of the bed and slowly helped Ellen stand.

"You've lost weight," I murmured as her ribs were more prominent under her hospital gown.

"That's what stress does to you."

"You're okay now." I felt her wince as I clasped her bra against her chest.

"Your hands are cold," she slightly smiled. Her skin was smooth under my hands as I helped her into her underwear and she slightly blushed as I pressed a kiss to her stomach. Finishing getting her dressed and her shoes on, I sat her down in the wheelchair adjacent to the bed and squatted down to look at her.

"You okay?" I asked, pushing her hair behind her ears.

"Just tired and hungry and I want to go home."

"We're going home soon, baby doll. Just have to get paperwork filled out." The door opened and I turned to see her family filing in.

"We're ready," Ashton smiled. With a nod, I stood, kissing her forehead and wheeled her out of the room.