After Going Blind, I Saw the Dawn

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In the instant the car went off the cliff, I held on with everything I had to my fianc, Les Sanchez, and my best friend, Sharon Swanson.

When I woke up, I was blind.

Sharon held me and cried until she nearly passed out.

Les gripped my hand tight.

Even if it costs me everything, I will get your sight back.

For six months, they took care of me down to the smallest thing.

Until today, when I opened my eyes and the world had light again.

I held back my joy. I wanted to surprise them.

The door opened, and Les walked in leading Sharon by the hand.

"You're up? Drink some warm milk."

"Later Sharon and I are going over to Dr. Matthews. You wait here at home for us like a good girl."

He set the cup down, but his hand slipped familiarly inside Sharon's clothes.

Color rose in Sharon's face, and her voice trembled a little.

"Evie, if anything comes up, remember to call me."

Then she tilted her head up and kissed Les.

Les leaned down and kissed her back, love pooling in his eyes that wouldn't clear.

I finally understood why they were always so quiet for so long.

I closed my eyes.

Les.

Whatever light I have from now on has nothing to do with you.

...

"Evie, we're heading out. Be good at home."

Sharon's voice still carried a slight catch in it.

I leaned against the headboard and listened to their footsteps fade away.

Six months, and I could finally see again. I could also see that disgusting little scene clearly.

I pushed back the blanket and walked into the living room.

Les's phone was lying on the coffee table.

Ever since I lost my sight, he'd just toss it down anywhere, and he never set a password.

In his messages, Sharon's chat was pinned to the top.

They'd been texting right in front of me.

"Your tongue was practically in my mouth just now. I was scared Evie would hear."

"I've got it handled. Good girl, go wait for me in the garage."

My chest went tight, and then it started to ache.

Quick footsteps came from outside the door.

I put the phone back fast and closed my eyes.

The door opened.

"Why are you out here?"

Les's voice was still a little breathless.

"I wanted a drink of water."

He came over in long strides, picked up the phone, and shoved it into his pocket.

As he passed me, he bent down and straightened my slippers.

Then he poured a cup of hot water and put it in my hand.

The side of the cup was scalding, and I let go on instinct.

Crash.

The glass hit the floor and shattered, pieces flying everywhere.

Hot water splashed across the top of my foot, leaving it red.

"Evelyn Harding, what are you doing?"

There was irritation running under Les's voice.

"You can't even hold a cup steady?"

He used to blow on the water to cool it first, then bring it to my lips.

Now he couldn't even be bothered to test the temperature.

"The water was too hot."

I said it calmly.

"If it's too hot, couldn't you have set it on the table first?"

He pulled out a few tissues and wiped up the water on the floor.

He stood and straightened his tie.

From start to finish, he never picked up the broken glass.

As if he'd completely forgotten the person standing in front of him was a blind woman who could cut herself at any moment.

"I'm in a hurry. Sharon's still waiting for me in the garage."

"We can't put off dealing with the aftereffects from her accident."

When the car lost control, I was the one who held on to Sharon with everything I had.

She only got minor injuries. I was the one who took the head trauma that crushed my optic nerve and left me blind.

But in Les's eyes, she was the victim.

"Les."

I called him back.

"What is it now?"

"Do you remember what day next Wednesday is?"

He frowned and thought about it for a long time.

"Next Wednesday? What could it be?"

"Work's been really busy lately, and Sharon's got her follow-up. Stop letting your mind wander all day, always insisting on those pointless little ceremonies."

Next Wednesday was our seventh anniversary as a couple.

It was also the day he'd promised to take me to get our marriage license.

He'd forgotten it completely.

"Forget it, then."

My tone didn't rise or fall.

He looked at me for a couple of seconds, as if my calm didn't sit right with him.

Then he bent down, the pad of his thumb brushing across my face.

"Are you upset again?"

"Evie, once your eyes are healed, we'll have all the time in the world."

He lowered his voice, gentle the way he used to be.

In the past, all he had to do was coax me like this and I wouldn't have the heart to press any further.

"Be good. Once I get through this busy stretch, I'll take you for that sushi you love."

"Okay."

Les looked like he wanted to say something more, but his phone rang.

He glanced down at the message and turned and walked out the door.

The door closed again.

I dug out my phone and switched off the blind-mode.

Then I opened my email and found the application form they'd already rejected three times.

Vertex Global Munich headquarters. Internal transfer application.

Back then Les had said he couldn't be without me, had begged me to stay in the country and build his company with him.

I gave up my own future, willing to stand behind him.

After I went blind, I even felt like I was the one dragging him down.

Now I filled the form in again and hit submit.

Toward evening, I dug out my suitcase, opened the closet, and started sorting through my clothes.

Only then did I realize how pitifully little I owned.

The only things that were truly mine were a few old pieces of clothing shoved into a corner.

Ever since I lost my sight, my whole daily life had run on their care.

My skincare had been swapped to a different brand, because Sharon said the one I used didn't suit me.

My jewelry had been taken away, because Les was afraid I'd knock into something and hurt myself.

When I finished, the suitcase was still more than half empty.

So this was how thin my presence in this relationship had worn.

At ten that night, the keypad lock beeped.

I pushed the suitcase under the bed and sat back down on the edge of it.

Les walked in trailing the smell of alcohol.

"Evie, still up?"

"Waiting for you."

His steps hitched.

"We closed a big deal at the company today. Had a few too many drinks, so I came home late."

I looked at the red lip print on his collar and nodded.

He took out a box and pressed it into my hands.

"For you. Open it."

I felt for the clasp and opened it. Inside was a necklace.

"It's the newest diamond design. I went to the counter and picked it out myself."

"I know you're still angry about earlier today. This makes it up to you, doesn't it?"

As he spoke, he lifted the necklace and stepped behind me.

The cool pendant settled against my collarbone, so familiar it made my nose sting.

Seven years ago, the first time he'd put a necklace on me, his fingers had trembled so badly he couldn't work the clasp.

Now he could fasten someone else's castoff around my neck without a flicker.

I said nothing, running my fingertips over the pendant.

On the back of it, tiny letters were engraved.

SS.

Sharon Swanson.

I'd seen it on my phone. Two days ago, Sharon had complained on social media that this exact necklace looked dated.

"You don't like it?"

"There's writing on the back of the pendant."

"What writing?"

"SS. Sharon Swanson's initials."

The room went abruptly silent.

Les lowered his voice.

"The counter gave me the wrong one."

"The wrong one?"

I repeated it with a soft laugh.

"Right. Sharon came to a work dinner with me today. She liked a necklace, so I bought it for her while I was at it."

"And besides, she's looked after you all this time. Isn't it only right for me to give her a gift?"

"The salesgirl just swapped your two boxes, that's all."

The more he said, the smoother he got. He even reached out to smooth my hair.

"I'll have yours sent back tomorrow. Don't make a scene over something this small."

Les knew me too well. He knew exactly what tone to use to make me doubt my own judgment.

I unclasped the necklace and pushed it in front of him.

"Since it's hers, then take it back and give it to her."

"Evelyn Harding."

Les drew in a deep breath, holding down his anger.

"What's gotten into you? You sit at home all day doing nothing. I'm out there earning the money that keeps you, and I come home to your attitude?"

"I'm tired. I want to sleep."

I didn't keep arguing. I just pulled back the covers.

"I haven't been sleeping well lately. Go sleep in the guest room. Your snoring keeps me up."

Les froze.

Before, no matter how cold he was to me, I would beg him to stay.

This was the first time I'd ever pushed him out.

"Fine. That's just great."

He clenched his jaw, grabbed the box, and slammed the door on his way out.

When I heard the door bang shut, I opened my eyes.

An email had popped up on my phone.

My application for early reinstatement and transfer had been approved.

The HR arrangements and flight information had come through with it.

Looking at the flight details, I let out a long breath.

The last couple of days, I hadn't reached for him the way I usually did.

Les must have sensed something off. Before leaving that morning, he even wrapped my scarf around my neck himself.

That weekend, out of nowhere, he offered to take me out.

"It's Gabriel Whitney's birthday thing tonight, everyone's going. You can't just sit shut up in the house all the time. I'll take you, get you out for a bit."

I didn't refuse.

This was probably the last time I'd see his friends before I left.

The door to the private room swung open, and the noisy crowd went quiet for a beat.

"Les, you brought your wife along."

Gabriel forced out a couple of dry laughs.

Les steered me into a seat in the corner.

He poured warm water, set it in front of me, and lowered his voice.

"Sit here and don't wander off. I'm going to go have a couple of drinks with them."

The little things like that, he never forgot.

But he hadn't forgotten to park me as far from Sharon as possible either, so I wouldn't spoil their fun.

He let go of me and walked straight to the head of the table.

The whispering started around me.

"Why'd Les even bring her?"

"Right? And now somebody has to wait on her. Poor Sharon, another rough night for her."

A little while later, a heavy wave of perfume.

Sharon.

"Evie, are you thirsty? Let me get you a glass of juice."

Her voice was gentle.

"No, thanks."

"Evie, are you still angry at Les?"

She dropped her voice, though it carried just far enough for the people around us to hear.

"The necklace was really a misunderstanding. Les wanted to buy you one, but you can't see, so there's no point in a diamond that sparkles like that. I told him to save the money and buy you more supplements instead."

She paused.

"That necklace I bought myself. I only borrowed Les's membership card."

Someone jumped in at once.

"Evelyn, that's enough. Les has been good enough to you, hasn't he? He spent everything he had fixing your eyes. What more do you want?"

"Exactly. Sharon waits on you every single day, and instead of being grateful, you're always suspicious of everyone."

Les sat not far off, a glass in his hand.

When people glanced his way, he only said, mildly,

"Evie's been sick for half a year, she's sensitive. Don't hold it against her."

Sharon caught my hand.

"Evie, don't listen to their nonsense."

"I'll always be your best friend."

I yanked my hand back, hard.

Sharon seized the moment, cried out, and knocked over the wine glass on the table, red wine soaking down her front.

"Sharon."

Les rushed over instantly and pulled her up.

Then he turned to me.

"Evelyn, what did you do?"

His tone wasn't harsh, but his eyes had gone cold.

I rose slowly to my feet.

"Sharon, do you think that just because I went blind, my head stopped working too?"

I didn't raise my voice, but the room fell silent all at once.

"The perfume on you is exactly the same as the smell on the collar of Les's shirt."

"The two of you carrying on right in front of me, did you think I couldn't hear it?"

"Are you here to be my eyes? Or to be the lady of the Sanchez house?"

Every word landed on their faces.

Sharon went white, tears rolling down in fat drops.

"Evie, how... how can you accuse me like this..."

"Enough."

Les cut her off, then stepped in front of me, blocking me from everyone's view.

"Evelyn, come home with me."

He gripped my wrist and lowered his voice.

"You're going to apologize to Sharon, properly."

Even now, the one he wanted to protect was still Sharon's dignity.

I didn't move.

Les's jaw tightened.

"You know exactly how Sharon has looked after you these past six months. If you don't have proof, don't say it a second time."

I felt for a glass of water, picked it up, and threw it in his face.

Cold water dripped off his hair, and he froze completely.

I took up my cane, turned, and walked toward the door.

Behind me came Les's voice, straining to hold back his anger.

"Evelyn, I gave you the chance. Walk out that door today, and don't count on me coming to coax you back."

My steps didn't stop.

Ever since the blowup in that private room, we hadn't spoken for three days.

That evening Les came home early and set a folder on the coffee table.

"Evelyn."

I kept sorting my Braille books and didn't answer.

He stood there a moment, then bent down and pulled the book out of my hands.

"How long are you going to keep this up?"

He pushed the folder into my hands.

"This is a new project the company's launching. I made a point of putting your name in the manager's slot. Every month the dividends will go straight into your account."

"I know that after you lost your sight you lost your income too, and without any security you started imagining things. These dividends are enough to keep you comfortable for the rest of your life."

He pressed his hand over the folder, his voice softening.

"Evie, as long as you stay quietly by my side, you'll always be part of the Sanchez family."

I ran my fingers along the edge of the folder.

I didn't need to see it to know this was no core project.

The core business of Les's company had long since been picked clean by Sharon's relatives.

This folder was almost certainly just a shell project.

"I don't want it."

I let go, and the folder slid to the floor.

Les's face went dark.

"Evelyn."

"Do you have any idea how many people out there are eyeing that position? Do you know how much pressure I took on just to get your name in there?"

"You always used to say you wanted to build the company up with me. Now I'm giving you a place, and you don't want it?"

I lifted my head, my eyes empty.

"Les, I don't want it."

His chest was heaving.

After a long moment he leaned down, braced a hand on the arm of the couch, and trapped me against him.

"Then what do you want?"

"What more do you want me to do to make it up to you?"

I turned my face away and said nothing.

We held like that for a moment, then he straightened.

He fixed his cuffs, and his face settled back into its usual composure.

"Tomorrow I'm going out of town for a business meeting. I'll be back in two weeks."

"Use the time to think it through. You can't manage without someone to take care of you, and you can't manage without me. When you realize you were wrong, call me."

With that he grabbed his car keys and strode out.

When the sound of the engine faded, I got up and threw the folder in the trash.

Early the next morning, I wheeled my suitcase into the airport.

As I passed the VIP lounge, a familiar voice reached me.

"Les, is the hotel in the Maldives an ocean-view suite?"

It was Sharon.

I stopped walking and turned my head.

Through the glass wall, I saw them.

Les was in casual clothes, looking at Sharon with his eyes full of tenderness.

"Of course. Didn't you say you love the ocean view there? I've arranged everything. This trip, we're going to relax properly for two whole weeks."

Sharon gave a sweet little laugh and leaned into his arms.

"So you're just leaving Evelyn to fend for herself? She's home all alone. What if something happens to her?"

Les gave a cold snort.

"Don't worry about her. Her temper's only gotten worse lately. She needs to be taught a lesson."

He lowered his head and kissed Sharon's forehead.

"These two weeks, I belong only to you."

So this was his business trip.

I drew my eyes back and turned toward the security checkpoint.

No lingering, no hesitation.

Les looked up all at once, staring at that familiar retreating figure, an inexplicable tightness in his chest.

He stood, meaning to go after her.

Sharon took his hand and laced her fingers through his.

"What's wrong?"

He gazed toward the spot where I'd disappeared, and quickly dismissed the suspicion in his mind.

She rarely even stepped out the front door alone. How could she possibly be at the airport?

He sat back down.

"It's nothing. Just thinking about spending our honeymoon together."

Sharon laughed softly and pressed herself into his arms.

Their lips met.

At ten o'clock sharp, the flight to Munich took off.

I looked out the window at the city shrinking below.

Les, I won't stay in the dark any longer.