~Author's Note~

Hello all my lovely readers! I just wanted to check in with you all. As many of you know, I have not been posting in awhile. I just wanted to clear it all up. I want to thank those who have stuck with me through this necessary hiatus.

About a year ago I noticed my vision was changing. I put off going to the eye doctor. At the time I was so busy and just didn't have the time to spare. I should have made the time. As the months went on it got worse. Everything was blurry, colors seemed muted. I just figured I needed a new prescription. After all it had been awhile since I had gotten new glasses, so I wasn't terribly worried.

Then came Covid. And my vision was getting worse and worse. I was to the point I was dealing with daily headaches, I couldn't wear my glasses because it just made it worse. Unless the screen could be in dark mode, and have larger text, I couldn't see it. Trying to read a piece of paper was even harder. I had to take a picture of it and zoom in to see what things said. I had accidents (literal wipeouts on asphalt) because I couldn't see things. My husband had to tell me when there was a step or curb just to be sure I didn't miss it.

It was bad. Because everywhere shut down I had to wait until places opened again. Months later my eye doctor still had not reopened. But I couldn't wait. I called all around finding anyone who could get me in. Finally I found a place a few towns away. I took the first available appointment (which was still weeks away). The office was located inside a shopping mall. The day of the appointment half the mall was closed because there was a riot. Thankfully we were on the other side. They were able to quickly see me. Things were not good. I didn't need new glasses, they wouldn't help me.

It turns out I had cataracts in both of my eyes. The only way to correct it was surgery. So I was recommended to a doctor. I went in for my first consultation and the doctor was amazed that I needed it, as young as I am and without having any traumatic injury in the past. I walked out with a date for my first surgery in 2 weeks. In those two weeks I had to have more testing done and a Covid test (not fun fyi), then I had to isolate. It was a long, anxious two weeks. I barely slept the night before the first surgery.

The surgery went well. The difference in vision in that one eye was just incredible. I was very lucky with the recovery for that eye. Two more appointments and the 2nd surgery was scheduled. Repeat the isolation and a 2nd Covid test (way worse than the first). Finally the second surgery comes. I was far more relaxed going into things this time. Surgery went fine, I went home. For the most part things were good recovery wise. I was in a little pain this round. I asked at the first post op and found out they had to put a small stitch in my eyelid. So that made sense why it was sore.

I have one more final post op to go (this coming week will put me at 1 month since I had the 2nd eye corrected). My distance vision is perfect. I do have to wear reading glasses for anything close up, but it is a huge improvement! I see better now than I ever have. It's incredible!

So I am getting things back on track with my writing and it's a slow process. I am currently reading my WIP so that I can get inspired and start writing again. This piece was painstakingly written in those mostly blind months. It was written for the Mini Bang Fest on Marvelously Magical on Facebook. And was ONLY possible because of a fabulous beta who went above and beyond for me. She literally corrected most of the mistakes herself. I never would have made the deadline had it not been for her. It is posted on Ao3 along with some art. You can also check out the rest of the submissions for that fest there too. This story is complete. I hope you enjoy!