"Does he know?" She looked sideways at the doctor.
The man nodded, and something twanged deep in her heart. He didn't deserve this. She thanked the doctor and pushed open the door, walking up to the bed. His life was changed forever.
They had pledged to protect each other. They'd never believed that they would need it. Now he needed her. In a strange kind of way she needed him, his presence in her life was reassuring. He understood her. She understood him. He was a fighter, he would never just give in.
He heard her footsteps and tilted his head. "Jo?" A funny little thrill in her soul, he sounded hopeful, longing. She smiled, the smile had a hint of tears, but her voice was steady. "Nothing gets by you." She sat down next to his bed. He put out his hand and she took it. His fingers trembled a little, but she held firm.
Part of her wanted to gather him into her arms and promise him that it would all be alright. But it wasn't going to be, and they both knew it.
"You know, don't you?"
He smiled, it was a little wobbly, but she was so proud of him. "That the light has gone out forever? Yes." There was the slightest hint of a catch in his voice, and she put her hand up to his cheek, gently stroking with her thumb.
"Jo... I release you from any responsibility you think that you may have."
Jo's thumb trembled for a second against his cheek. "But I don't accept that release. We're in this together."
"Even though you have to lead a blind man around by the hand for the rest of his life?" No mistaking the catch in his voice.
She framed his face with her hands, "Stu. It's you and me, hun. That's a promise. Blind or sighted." She knew that his sight was gone, when they took the bandages off it would make no difference, the blow to his head had affected his optic nerve.
For a second she rested her forehead against his. Those beautiful, expressive brown eyes, with the light gone out forever. It was a physical pain she felt.
He put his hands up, framing her face. He could face anything, even blindness, with his best friend. He didn't need sight, her face was in his mind's eye always.