In Darkness
"So... It's permanent?" Jill whispered. She sat in a chair in the same room as before, Rebecca standing before her. "I'm never going to see again?"
Rebecca looked at her feet, tears forming in the corner of her eyes."I'm sorry, Jill. I can look into some other research to see what else can be done. Maybe we can... find some type of replacement for the P30 that was in your blood. Something that wouldn't poorly affect you."
"How long would that take?" Jill's hand was limp in Chris'. His eyes never left her face. Her eyes had clouded over in the week between waking up blind and the blood work being finished. Now her eyes were a cloudy light blue.
"I don't know...But it might be possible. The BSAA still has the sample of P30 on reserve file. I can request it and study it's components. See if I can find what caused your vision loss. Another few months at least...And that's if I can get the sample."
Jill dragged a hand down her face. "A few months...? If..?" Her grip became that of a vice's on Chris' hand. "What am I going to do until then?"
Rebecca looked back up at her friend."I can refer you to some specialists to help you adjust until then. They can teach you braille and how to instruct a seeing eye dog..."
Jill wanted to yell at her younger friend that she wouldn't need braille or a seeing eye dog. That her eyes would be fine in a few more it was temporary. But she knew that it wasn't. "Thanks, Becca..." she whispered.
She and Chris left. In Chris' hand as they left was a card for awoman named Clara Dorian. She was highly reccomended to teach adults braille.
At home, Jill went in the bedroom as soon as she got there. He followed her in, hoping she wasn't retiring to bed already. She only sat down at the edge of the bed her useless eyes closed and facing downwards. He sat beside her. Silence echoed through the room. It stayed there like a stubborn child, refusing to leave. Finally, Chris seemed to force it from the room when he spoke. "Do you want me to call her?"
Jill hesitated to reply. "You should... But I wish we didn't have to. I really... I hate this." She pushed her palms against her pointless sockets and sighed.
He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her against him. "I know... I do too. You're the woman I love. I hate this just as much as you. But we've got hope. Becca'll figure out a replacement for P30 and kick start your eyes. And everything will be back to normal."
She scowled. "Chris, don't be an optimist. I don't want my hopes up for something that is more likely to not happen. I'd rather focus on learning how to live like this. That way, I'll know. I can make it if I learn how. I am going to fucking get through this, okay?" She gripped the front of his shirt and pressed her forehead to the center of his chest. "I'm going to. And I want you to be there beside me for every single hellish step. I need you. For the next few weeks you'll be my eyes until I can read braille and have a seeing eye dog. Just promise you won't leave me alone in darkness..." She bit her lip and whispered. "I can do this... Just not alone."
He placed a hand on her back and spoke. "I'm not going to leave you, Jill. I promise. I will never leave you."
She slipped her arms around his neck and easily found his lips. Their two pairs knew each other well and fell into rhythm, only surfacing for air when absolutely neccesary. She ended up pushing him back against the bed, finding a need to ravish him in the way only she could.
Jill placed a hand on the wall and felt her way down to the living room. She managed to reach the couch and collapsed on it. Chris was out buying groceries. She prefered to stay at home where she knew where everything was and could make it where she needed to go. She loved the house anyway. Large, with four bedrooms, two baths and a sunlight in the kitchen. She liked the feeling of the sun on her skin through the glass.
A few days prior, Chris had bought her a clock that 'tolled' every hour. That way she could know the time and tell when he was going to be home. He had promised four before he left. Unfortunately for her, it was only three.
There was a knock at the door and, without waiting for an answer, the door opened. Jill tensed. "It's me! Claire!" a voice called. Jill relaxed.
"How've you been?" The blonde on the couch asked. She could hear Claire grow closer to the couch.
"Fine. And how are you?" The red head sat on the arm of the couch and looked at her sister-in-law.
Jill sighed. "I'm still getting used to this whole... being blind thing. I don't think I could stand it if it weren't for that brother of yours."
Jill heard the smile in Claire's voice. "I'm pretty sure that there is no way to overstate how much he loves you. You're so lucky, Jill! I'd give anything to have a guy love me the way Chris loves you."
The blonde smiled softly. "I know. And speaking of guys, when are you going to find one and give me a neice or nephew?"
Claire huffed. "When you and Chris give me a neice or nephew. And if it's a girl, you should name her after me." Jill frowned and directed her eyes downward, staring sightlessly at the carpet. Claire noticed. "What's wrong?" she asked quietly.
Jill bit her lip, shaking her head gently. "If the P30 affected my eyes this way, then what about the rest of me? What if I've been turned sterile?" Her voice remained soft, but didn't shake. "I want to have kids. And I know Chris does. We've been planning to have some, but... What if I can't?" Claire slid down besides her, pulling her into a hug.
"It's gonna be fine, Jill. You and Chris are gonna have like, a million babies. And each of them are going to be great with lockpicks and a gun." Claire patted the previously brunette woman's back.
Jill laughed lightly as she pulled away. "Lockpicks and a gun? We'll have our hands full, won't we?" Silence lasted for a moment until Jill broke it again. "I really wish I had a sister like you when I was growing up."
Claire smiled. "Well, you've got me now. That'll have to do."
