Chapter 394 Regain Your Vision
After staying in the hospital for a few days, it was finally time for Amelia’s bandages to be removed.
James instructed for the curtains to be closed, just in case the sunlight was too blinding for Amelia’s eyes after the bandages were removed.
He said, “Amelia, I’m removing the bandages now. Don’t worry, okay?”
Amelia gripped the corners of her hospital gown, feeling a mixture of excitement and nervousness. She nodded slowly. “Okay.”
James removed the bandages for her carefully, layer by layer. When everything was gone, he smiled and declared, “Open your eyes slowly, Amelia. Can you see anything?”
Amelia opened her eyes. A ray of light slipped through the gap between her eyelids, causing her to close them instinctively before opening them again.
“Amelia, can you see my hand?” asked James as he raised his hand and waved it in front of her.
Smiling, she waved her hand excitedly, too. “Oscar! I can finally see! I can see again!”
Oscar grabbed her hand and said, “Don’t be too excited, Amelia.”
She breathed in deeply and calmed herself down, trying to adjust to this new vision that she had been deprived of for two years. Having seen the sunlight after living in utter darkness for years, she felt a bitter feeling wash over her. She suddenly had the urge to cry out of happiness.
James reminded, “Amelia, since your eyes have just recovered, it’s best if you stay away from gadgets with a lot of radiation, such as phones, televisions, and laptops. You must make sure to give your eyes enough rest and not tire them out, okay?”
Amelia nodded.
“Take your time to adjust. I’ll visit my patients in the other wards, and I’ll come back later,” said James with a smile as he grabbed the patient list.
Just when Amelia stood up from the bed to send James off, he protested, “Amelia, there’s no need to be so polite. Just stay where you are! You don’t have to stand on ceremony with me. It’ll only make us seem like strangers, no?”
Amelia smiled gently and stopped insisting on sending James out.
After James left, Amelia scrutinized Oscar carefully.
As she stroked his face, tears welled up in her eyes. A complex feeling engulfed her as she remarked hoarsely, “You’ve lost weight, Oscar.” Even though it had been two years since she last saw him and he had lost weight, he seemed even more masculine to her.
Oscar placed his hand over hers and said, “So, do you like me better now, or do you like me better then?”
Laughing, Amelia said, “Regardless of how you look like, I’ll still like you.”
Oscar hugged her waist, his breath brushed against her cheek, tickling her.
“Really?” he asked.
Amelia blushed. Although two years had passed, Oscar was still able to elicit such a huge reaction from her, making her heart beat rapidly.
Cough! Tiffany, who was acting as the third-wheel, cleared her throat on purpose.
Only then did Amelia realize that there were other people in the ward as well.
She shoved Oscar away gently, her cheeks burning even more. She had been so distracted by his handsome profile that she actually forgot about her best friend.
Tiffany strode forward and shoved Oscar aside. Hugging Amelia, she exclaimed happily, “Babe, congratulations on regaining your vision! The gorgeous girl I know has finally returned!”
Amelia returned her hug, feeling moved. Were it not for Tiffany’s presence over the past two years, she would not have gotten over the depression of being blind so quickly.
She said gratefully, “Thank you for your constant company over the past two years, Tiffany. I’m genuinely grateful for everything that you’ve done for me. If you weren’t with me, I wouldn’t have pulled it through all the hardship. With an amazing friend like you, I’m eternally satisfied.”
Tiffany’s eyes reddened. Patting Amelia’s hand, she said through sobs, “Stop it! It’s a joyous occasion now that you can see again. Stop saying these cheesy words and making us cry.”
Amelia laughed.
Letting go of Tiffany’s hands, Amelia cupped her cheeks and said, “Let me see how you’ve changed.” After scrutinizing Tiffany’s face for a while, she chuckled and said, “You’ve lost some weight, but you’ve become even more gorgeous now. Looks like you’re having an amazing time dating someone.”
“Nonsense! Derrick even complained that I rarely dress up. And that I’m becoming uglier,” claimed Tiffany.
Amelia glanced at Derrick. It had been two years since she saw his handsome and androgynous face, and the sight of him still made her heart skip a beat.
He’s so beautiful that he doesn’t seem like a human at all!
“Compared to Derrick, we’re just like peasants. He has the right to say that we’re ugly,” agreed Amelia as she nodded.
Stunned, Tiffany burst out laughing. “Babe, you’ve learned how to crack jokes after regaining your vision, huh?”
“Am I wrong?” asked Amelia as she winked mischievously.
Tiffany helped her sit down and said, “Babe, your eyes have just recovered, so you should rest more. It’s been two years since you’ve seen the sun. If your eyes are exposed to the sun for too long, it won’t be great for your recovery.”
Although Amelia felt like protesting, she still lay on the bed obediently.
“Derrick, thank you for taking care of me over the past two years. After interacting with you for two years, you’ve passed my test. Thank you for accepting Tiffany for who she is. Please treasure her in the future and protect her well,” said Amelia solemnly as she turned around and gazed at Derrick.
Derrick walked to the bed and pulled Tiffany into his arms domineeringly. Smiling, he promised, “Don’t worry, Amelia. Tiff is mine. I’ll definitely treat her nicely.”
Amelia said with an assured grin, “I’m relieved to hear that.”
“Babe, why does it feel like you’re selling me away?” demanded Tiffany in feigned anger.
“Well, if the buyer is Derrick, I don’t really mind selling you,” rebuked Amelia in amusement. Now that she had regained her vision, her mood became much better.
“You’re so mean, babe! Seems to me that all of my kindness toward you have gone to waste! I can’t believe that you’re selling me away without even accepting the deposit first.” Tiffany rolled her sleeves up as if she was about to challenge Amelia to a fight.
Amelia could not help but laugh.
In the midst of this harmonious atmosphere, someone knocked on the ward’s door. When Oscar opened the door, he saw Mary and her husband standing outside.
Oscar moved to the side and said, “Please come in, Mr. and Mrs. Hill.”
The couple entered.
When Mary saw Amelia, who had just regained her vision, she could not help but feel like crying. She mumbled, “She really does look like my… my son…”
Mary’s husband, Bruce Hills, hugged her and reminded her, “She’s not our son. Calm down now. Don’t scare her off.”
As if she had just been woken up from a dream, Mary glanced at Amelia apologetically and said, “I’m sorry, Ms. Winters. It’s just that when I saw your eyes, I thought I’ve seen my son. I couldn’t hold myself back for a moment there. I hope that I didn’t scare you.”
Amelia stood up from the bed and glanced at Oscar.
He explained, “They’re Mr. and Mrs. Hill, the parents of the young man who donated his corneas to you.”
Walking over to Mary, Amelia greeted with a smile, “Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Hill. I haven’t regained my vision the last time we met, so this is my first time seeing both of you. I’m really grateful that you’re willing to donate your son’s corneas to me. I am sincerely very, very grateful.”
Mary grabbed her hands intimately, without the awkwardness of just meeting her for the second time. She exclaimed emotionally, “Ms. Winters, I’m so glad that my son’s corneas are compatible with you. It’s like he lives on in you! Whenever I look at you, I feel like I’m looking at my son. Is it okay if I visit you whenever I miss him? Now that my only son’s gone, I’ll be satisfied if I could just look at your eyes. Please, that’s all I’ll ever ask of you.”
Sorrow washed over Amelia. As a mother, she could empathize with the agonizing pain of losing a child.
“Mrs. Hill, just call me Amelia. And feel free to come by whenever you miss your son. Just give me and my husband a call, and we’ll welcome you warmly,” replied Amelia with a smile.
At that moment, Mary felt like her son’s eyes had not been wasted. A kind woman like Amelia would allow her son’s eyes to see the world with the same kindness.
“Amelia, you have a very kind soul. I’m so glad that my son’s corneas are transplanted to you.” Mary smiled through her tears. “My husband and I rushed over today just to visit you. I hope that you’ll treasure your eyes and let them stay with you as you explore the world. Just treat this as a mother’s selfish wish.”
Amelia nodded.
“I promise, Mrs. Hill. I’ll definitely treasure these eyes and not let them be harmed,” promised Amelia solemnly.
“Thank you.”
“I should be the one thanking you instead. Were it not for your selflessness, I might still be blind. I’m really grateful to you for letting me see again.” Amelia was starting to get emotional, too. She was genuinely grateful to them for their selflessness. After all, there was a possibility that they might regret it at the last moment before the cornea transplant.
“You’re a good person,” said Mary.
Amelia merely smiled in response.
They talked for almost an hour before Mary and her husband stood up. “My husband and I will take out leave first because we still have to attend to some things. Now that I’ve gotten your number, I’ll give you a call whenever we visit your city. Please agree to meet with us then, okay?”
“Okay! Have a good trip, Mr. and Mrs. Hill,” said Amelia and Oscar as they sent the couple to the exit.
After the couple left, Oscar and Amelia walked back to the hospital ward.
“They’re such strong and kind parents. I admire them a lot,” said Amelia sincerely.
“Yeah. They’re very selfless parents,” agreed Tiffany.
Oscar and Derrick did not say anything.
