Blue ✓

♠ four ♠

"We have a few final tests to run, and go over home care instructions before you can be discharged."

Aiyla heard Dr. Smith scratch something onto the pad he most likely had in front of him. She'd gotten much better at distinguishing smaller sounds now; footsteps, breaths, and now the sound of pen running over paper. There's was a sharpness to it which she would have never noticed before.

"Thank you." She heard her mother say and the doctor stand up. He paused thoughtfully for a moment, and she felt his gaze on her.

"There's a braille-learning course that's held biannually. If you'd like, I could refer you to it?"

Aiyla blinked. Braille?

She must have asked aloud, for the doctor was replying. "A method of reading via touch. Little miss seems to enjoy reading, I'm sure you will benefit much from it."

Her mother agreed.

"You'll receive your CVI and a letter of referral with it. Just take it to your nearest RNIB office and they'll provide everything for you."

"Thank you."

The minute the doctor left, Aiyla turned to her mother. "What language were you guys speaking?"

Ammi laughed. "English, darling."

"What's a CVI? And RNIB?"

"CVI is a Certificate of vision loss, it'll give access to a lot of services and benefits to help and assist you. And RNIB is the Royal National Institute for Blind People, they have a lot of resources to help people like you."

Aiyla was surprised at her lack of reaction to being classed as blind.

"So... What's braille like?"

"Hmm, I think dots and lines that represent letters and words...?"

"What kind of dots and lines?"

"Darling, you'll be enrolled on the course, where you'll get to learn all about it."

Aiyla pouted, noticing the child-toned emphasis on 'all' and suppressed a laugh. Her mother was so easy to rile up.

"But I wanna know now... I'm so curious!"

"Be patient and you will know."

"But... don't wanna. Why don't you tell me?"

"Because I don't know? You can save all these questions for your instructor."

Aiyla heaved out a sigh. "Fiiine."

"Yakoonu waraa's sabri Ashyaa'an jameela."

A smile curled at her lips at that. That was her mother's favourite quote which meant 'beautiful things come after patience.' And she loved using it on her children.

♕

Home was familiar yet strange.

There was no longer the stale air tinged with medicine and muted steps of nurses in the corridors, now it was air scented with her mother's favourite spices in the mornings, and the aroma of differently flavoured tea in the afternoon. She'd missed Ammi's habit of trying out exotic flavours of tea, and the soothing smell of it made her feel more at home.

Especially amidst the fussing of her mother and brother. Her mother had officially registered as her carer and was milking that authority on her. It was nice, and stifling.

Re-learning the house she'd lived in since she was born was another experience she couldn't put into words. First day she returned, Ammi and Suhayl had given her a touch-tour of the house to make sure she'd become familiar with the placement of things. Many objects and furniture were rearranged to prevent her from accidental trips and falls.