What's next to the dark? || Angus & Malcolm Young

Chapter 14: Florida

They had brought Angus things to Malcolm's room to have a common room again, as they had before.

*

Three weeks later they were on the plane to Florida.

"Can I ... can I hold your hand?" Angus asked anxiously. He only heard the loud noises of the plane. Malcolm took Angus' hand in his and rubbed it soothingly.

"Everything will be fine, little brother."

"Sir, you still need to buckle up." Said a stewardess, looking at Angus.

"Oh." Malcom took Angus' strap and closed it.

"Thank you." With that the woman was gone. The plane took off. Angus felt the speed and the difference in altitude and anxiously squeezed Malcolm's hand.

"Everything is fine, Angus. I'm here." Malcolm hummed. Soon they were in the air and could unbuckle their seatbelts. "Are you hungry, Ang? Oh. What am I asking? You're always hungry." Malcolm chuckled and took a candy bar from his little bag, which he unwrapped and held out to Angus. "Here."

"What's that?" Asked Angus, sniffing it.

"It's a candy bar." Malcolm chuckled.

"Thanks!" Angus shouted, taking a bite. "Mal, it scratches." Angus wailed.

"What?" Malcolm asked. Angus tugged the yellow noose around his arm unhappily. He usually didn't wear it, but because of the flight and because they were in another country, he had to wear the yellow noose with the three black dots. Malcolm chuckled a little. "If all goes well, you'll never have to wear this again."

"What if I'm still blind?" Asked Angus.

"Then at least we tried." Malcolm sighed and looked out the window. That was exactly what he was afraid of. That Angus would continue to be blind.

"Thanks for trying, Mal." Angus said, snuggling up to Malcolm's side.

"It's clear, Angus." Malcolm smiled. "Get some sleep. We'll be out for a long time."

*

They landed in Florida when it was noon. The doctor's appointment was at 1 p.m.

"How's it going here?" Asked Angus as they walked across the sidewalk towards the clinic.

"It's beautiful here, Angus. It's a shame you don't see it." Malcolm sighed. They walked through the streets.

"Is that the sea?" Asked Angus when he heard the rustle.

"Yes." Malcolm chuckled.

"Can we go swimming?"

"After that, okay?" Angus nodded. Malcolm opened the door and they went up to the practice, where they were sent to the waiting room.

"I'm scared, Mal." Angus whispered.

"You don't have to be afraid, Angus. Everything will be fine."

"What if I'm still blind?" Angus whimpered.

"Then we'll try again to let you see."

"Angus McKinnon Young." Said a woman. Angus stood shakily.

"Don't worry, I'll go with you." Malcolm calmed him down and took his hand. "Good luck, Ang." Malcolm kissed his forehead gently. Angus was taken to the operating room. Malcolm watched briefly before he was sent into the waiting room. He bit his lower lip nervously. Hopefully everything would go well. He still had to fill out forms and then see a doctor for surgery while Angus was being operated on.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Young." The man greeted.

"Hello." Malcolm sat across from him.

"So. I want to tell you not to panic if your brother doesn't see anything after the operation."

"Will he ... won't he?" Malcom asked softly. The doctor smiled.

"No. Not after the operation. If the operation is successful, he won't be able to see for a few days because his eyes will be injured." Malcolm nodded. "Are you going back to Australia?"

"Yes. Back home." Malcolm said.

"OK. Then give me a call if he should see again."

"Thanks. Thanks for everything." Malcolm said.

*

He was led out. Angus stood in the corridor. A nurse stood next to him. Angus' eyes were blindfolded. He wore a bandage around his eyes that was wrapped around his head.

"Angus." Malcolm breathed and ran towards him. He hugged him tightly. Angus smiled.

"Hello Mal."

"Let him sleep. He needs a lot of rest." Said the nurse. Malcolm nodded.

"Thank you." With that he went back to the hotel with Angus by the hand. At the hotel he put Angus in bed. "Did it hurt a lot?" Asked he.

"I was under anesthesia, Mal. I didn't feel it." Malcolm nodded a little.

"Do you think it worked?"

"I don't know." Malcolm kissed Angus on the forehead.

"I hope it worked." He lay down next to Angus. "Sleep, little brother. You need rest." Angus snuggled up against Malcolm and fell asleep. Malcolm stroked Angus' hair and looked at him sadly. When Angus slept, Malcolm whispered, "Please. If there is a god, let him see."

*

After two days they flew back to Australia. A week passed and Angus saw nothing. Malcolm sat at the kitchen table crying.

"Why?" He whispered. Angus was in bed and asleep. "Why can't I be blind and he can see for that?" Tears ran down Malcolm's cheeks.