Boundless Love

This Can't be Happening

Charlotte's POV...

            "Miss Charlotte Thomas! The doctor is ready to see you now," the young medical assistant announces into the waiting room.

I feel like I've been sitting in this waiting room for hours. I don't have time for this, there is too much going on at the rehab center for me to bother with having my eyes checked. I promised Levi though and I've noticed a change in my vision, so here I am.

I walk into the exam room and take a seat in the chair closest to the doctor's stool. Moments later, a tall slender optometrist enters the room and offers to shake my hand.

"What brings you into my office today, Miss Thomas?" His tiny spectacles inching their way down the bridge of his nose until he pushes them back up with his finger.

"I think I may need some reading glasses," I tell him.

He starts typing on his laptop and says, "Tell me what's been going on for you to assume you need reading glasses?"

I don't know where to begin and notice him reading over my history questionnaire and symptoms checklist I had to fill out when I arrived.

"You wrote that you've been tired and sometimes things appear blurry to you when you're reading but not all the time?" He questions.

I still don't respond so he continues, "And you've had frequent headaches with dizziness at times?"

"Yes, that's correct. Does that mean I need glasses?" I finally speak.

"Because of your history, I would like to give you a complete eye exam and run a few tests," he informs me.

I don't have time for a full exam, I wish he would just prescribe me the glasses so I can get back to work. Yes, maybe my medical history gives him concern, but that's in the past.

First his assistant sits me in front of a machine that I press my forehead against. A forceful puff of air shoots into my eye making me blink rapidly. Just when I think I'm prepared for the next eye, I'm shot in the eye again making both my eyes water uncontrollably.

My next test consists of me staring at a beam of light for fifteen seconds without blinking while they capture images of behind my eyes.

After those tests are completed, I'm instructed to sit in the exam chair so the doctor can test my sight using different lenses. I can easily read all the letters on the board in front of me and the doctor confirms I'm not nearsighted.

He then brings what looks like a pen with a square tip close to my face then slowly pulls the pen away from me until I read the letters on the square tip. He then tells me to let him know when the letters become blurry. As soon as I focus on the pen moving closer to my face, I become dizzy and nauseous.

"Miss Thomas, I am going to prescribe you some reading glasses, but I am concerned about some of your tests and I had my secretary make you an appointment with your previous neurologist for tomorrow," he says in a serious tone.

"Should I be worried?" I ask him with a shaky voice. This can't be good, there's only one reason I'd need a Neurologist.

"With your previous neurological issue, I would rather you speak with him tomorrow, my secretary will help you check out and give you your appointment information," he says before jetting out of the room.

I slowly drive back to rehab; I feel sick to my stomach knowing what could be wrong with me that I have to see my old specialist. I can't tell Levi about my appointment tomorrow; he'll freak out like I feel like doing. Levi's been rapidly improving since we've been back from California, and he's so happy about it. I know it's probably not a good idea to keep this from him and it breaks our trust, but I just can't interrupt the progress he's making by letting him worry about me.