Into The Dark

{34} I Can See!

Ash is lead into a room, more like pushed around in another wheelchair, and is introduced to the eye specialist.

"Hello, Ashley. My name is Alex Bridger. You can call me Alex. I'm going to help you with your eyes, alright?" She asks as the footsteps of the Governor leaves the room.

"Alright." Ash says as she tries to hear where Alex is in the room.

"Can you explain to me what you see? Is it dark or light?" She asks as she moves around the room.

"Uh...its light. But I can't see anything. It's all blurred out. I can see shapes but I don't know what the shape is. If that makes any sense..?" Ash says feeling like she was a kid at the doctors all over again not knowing how to explain how she was feeling, in this case seeing.

"Hmm." Alex hums in thought as she finally walks up from behind Ash. Ash is surprised as a big black blob is place in front of her face. "That is a good thing. It means you haven't gone totally blind. Can you see things clearer if they are closer to your eyes?"

Ash scrunches up her face in thought. "I'm not sure. I mean, when its closer, all I see is a blob. But when it's far, I can't see anything. So, I guess?" Her face heats up. She should have just said yes.

Alex moves in front of her and the black blob that floats in front of her. "What is this?" Ash asks as she points at the blob.

"Oh! That's the phoropter. It's what we will be using to take your eye exam. Sorry, I should have explained before I put it there. Been so long since I had a patient. Not many blind people still out there." She says before stopping. "I'm sorry! That came out wrong!"

Ash smiled and shook her head. "No, it's okay. Finally someone says it. I'm blind. And its a miracle I'm alive." She says before looking down with a frown.

She's never said it out loud before. Never accepted that she was actually blind. But hopefully with Alex's help, she will see again and be able to find Rick.

"Well, I can tell you one thing." Alex says and Ash looks up. "We need more miracles around here. And if we can get you something to help you see, then we can add that to the list of miracles you brought to this place." She says.

Ash becomes confused. "What do you mean? I haven't even done anything." She says.

Alex chuckles as the sound of someone sitting in a chair rings through the room. "Haven't done anything? Ashley, you have given me hope. Hope that anyone can survive out there. I can see just fine, I can run without a problem, and I have walls and people surrounding me. Ashley, you had none of those when they found you and you still survived. It shows that anyone, weak or strong, can survive this world, as long as they have something they are living for."

It's quiet before the sound of a wheely chair wheels toward her. Ash could sense that Alex was pretty close. "What are you living for? What has you in drive to survive this apocalypse?" She asks.

Ash's mind flashes to the promise she made to Rick. To protect him and his family. Because she couldn't protect hers, she's gonna protect his.

"I..." She speaks in a low breath before hearing the doors slam open causing her flinch in shock and horror.

"What is this? Tea time? I thought you said you were gonna help a blind girl then come straight back." A males voice growled and Ash lowered her head in shame.

"Matt!" Alex snapped as she placed a hand on Ash's shoulder softly. "I will be home after I am done with my patient. But right now you need to leave. Now!"

Ash could feel the tension in the air. Obviously they were having a standoff. Her mind wandered to her father for the second time today. Were all men in this place going to remind her of him? Her frown deepened. She hoped not.