Blue-Green 36
Sue glanced at the clock on the wall. It was almost eight o'clock in the morning. She shook her head. Most of the night seemed like a strange endless dream but she was here and Hector looked so at peace. Reaching out, she brushed the hair back off his forehead.
"Do you think he'll wake up soon?"
'Ask him.' James pointed at the sailor.
Hector caught her hand and held it to his cheek. "You're here," he whispered. "You're real." He let go of her and sat up slowly, letting his feet hand over the edge of the bed.
Levi trotted over and put a paw on his leg.
"Hey, Levi, I didn't forget you." The sailor reached for the dog's head and gave him a good scratch.
"How are you feeling?"
He took a moment to answer. "Better. Lots better." Even though his eyes were still covered, he looked down at his palm and closed it as if he were holding something Precious. "Thank you."
A finger touched his chin. "Could you repeat that? I have to see your lips in order to read them."
"Sorry. I said thank you. First you gave me help. Then you gave me hope." He stood up and reached for her. The embrace was both gentle and overwhelming to Sue. Her empathy had tuned her into his emotions and she began to cry. He stepped back and framed her face with his hands. "You are the most beautiful person I've never seen. You'll always have a place in my heart right next to her."
She smiled through the tears. "Thank you. That is a lovely compliment." She touched the bandages on his eyes. "When will you be able to take these off?"
The sailor shrugged. "A few days. Now that I have an idea of…what I need to do, I'll focus more on getting better." He ran a hand through his hair. "Can I come see you? When I get better?"
Sue looked at James who nodded 'Yes.'
"Wait, ol' Stone Face is here, isn't he?"
"Who?"
James tapped her and pointed to himself.
'Why 'Stone Face'?'
He pointed to his face. 'Lips don't move, remember?'
'Oh. So what do you call him?'
"I know you are talking about me."
'Sailor Boy, but he doesn't know that. Neither does anyone else.'
'Just you and me, then?'
'Deal.'
"This is so not fair."
A raspberry was his reply.
"Oh great, make fun of the blind guy."
James made a small violin and Sue busted out laughing.
Hector grinned and shook his head. Things were getting back to normal after all.
