Frightened


"Why would she not be able to see?" Dominic asked, "Is this some kind of side effect from the surgery?" He questioned, pacing outside Sofia's hospital room whilst Thea stood still, watching Sofia through the window where Doctor Arnold was inside assessing her.

"Depending on where her head was injured." Thea said in a trance, keeping her eyes on Sofia, "Her vision could be affected. If the optic nerve is damaged. Which it can be after a traumatic head injury." She nodded. Being a doctor right now wasn't settling her nerves, because she knew the fact her daughter's vision was gone was not a good thing at all.

"But it comes back?" Dominic nodded, "It's just temporary? Until her head heals?" Dominic said, trying to find something to hold onto.

Thea turned to him, watching as he paused his pacing, looking at her hopefully, "Sometimes." She said truthfully, "If it's been so damaged it can…" She turned back to watching Sofia through the window, watching her hold Doctor Arnold's hands, doing some tests with him, "It can be permanent." She nodded, placing her hand over her mouth.

Dominic looked on at Sofia through the window, running his hands over his face and walking away over to the waiting room whilst Thea stood silently crying into her hand. It was a feeling so hard to describe. She could see her daughter awake and stable, functioning and physically doing well, only someone had turned the light off on her whole life. Indefinitely.

Doctor Arnold eventually left Sofia's room, making his way outside and over to Thea who rubbed her sweaty palms on her jeans.

"What do you think?" Thea asked, "How is she doing?"

"Is your husband still with you?" Doctor Arnold asked.

"Over there." Thea pointed to Dominic who was sat over in the waiting room, "I think he just needs a minute." She said as Doctor Arnold nodded.

"It appears Sofia has lost her vision." Doctor Arnold said as Thea looked at him, trying to steady her quivering lip, trying so hard not to cry, "We can't say right now if it's temporary or… not." He said, "I'd like to have her rest some more. Her surgery was quite extensive and she's tired. First thing in the morning I'd like to take her for some scans. It'll give me a better idea of how things are looking." He told her.

"How often do you see people lose their vision and gain it back?" Thea questioned, "Is it something that just needs to heal? The more she heals… the more her vision starts to come back?" Thea nodded, clinging onto her own words.

"It all depends on how much damage the optic nerve has sustained. With acute brain injuries like this, when the optic nerve is so damaged, it's often unlikely that vision will come back." He told her truthfully as Thea nodded, trying to be brave in front of this man, wanting him to know that Sofia had a strong mother, even if she felt anything but it.

"And she really can't see a thing?" Thea asked, drying her tears as Doctor Arnold nodded.

"I can only imagine how terribly stressful and upsetting this is as her parents." Doctor Arnold, "Is there any other family you'd like to contact? Is there someone I can get for your husband to talk to?" He wondered, looking over at Dominic.

"No." Thea shook her head, "Not right now. Thank you." Thea nodded.

"She needs her rest." Doctor Arnold said, "I'll be round in the morning to see how she is and to take her for her scans."

"Ok." Thea nodded, "Thank you." She said as Doctor Arnold, smiling sympathetically before walking off down the corridor.

Thea looked on at Sofia through the window, noticing she was fast asleep. She couldn't imagine just how frightened she was right now. Waking up in hospital, waking up to darkness. Not being able to see her mother and father's face to reassure her things would be ok. It broke her.

She turned back to Dominic, making her way over to him and sitting down beside him, placing her hand on his leg.

"What'd he say?" Dominic asked.

"He wants her to rest tonight. And then she's going for some scans in the morning." Thea nodded, sniffing and drying more of her tears, "If her optic nerve is so damaged, it's likely she won't get her vision back." She told him as Dominic looked down at the floor.

"Surely they can do something." Dominic whispered, "Another surgery? Medication? Any kind of treatment?" He asked her as Thea looked at him, shaking her head.

She wasn't so clued up on blindness, even as a doctor, but she did know that it was one of those things that didn't have many cures or reversible methods.

"We need to… pack her a bag and bring it in." Thea nodded bravely, "I'll call my family in the morning." She told him.

"Can she really not see us at all? Maybe it's just blurry for her?" Dominic nodded. He couldn't digest the news. He couldn't come to terms with the fact his daughter couldn't see. Anything. Just a few hours ago she could see anything she set her eyes on. She could see her brother teasing her. She could see the homework she was so clever at finishing. She could see her little sister throwing her veg onto her plate. Now there was nothing.

"It's not just blurry." Thea shook her head as Dominic shook his head, placing his hands over his face, wishing to wake up from this nightmare.

Thea wrapped her arms around him, burying her face into his neck as he hugged her tightly, letting out an upset sigh as she cried into his shoulder.


"She's slept for a while." Thea nodded positively, sitting by Sofia's bed a few hours later with Dominic. They'd stayed by her side the entire night and morning, only leaving to go home for five minutes and pack her a bag.

"She'll be happy to know this guy is with her when she wakes up." Dominic nodded, picking up Sofia's teddy bear which they'd sat beside her in bed, so she couldn't feel him beside her.

"Yeah." Thea smiled, placing her hand on top of Sofia's, stroking her thumb back and forth on the top of her little hand.

"What do we say to James? And Sam?" Dominic asked, "Sam isn't gonna understand this."

"We'll think of something." Thea nodded, "Her other senses are going to be heightened. Touch and hearing." She said, "When she's awake, and we come in and out of the room, we should announce ourselves." She said, already trying to think of how they could deal with this, as new and fresh and devastating as it was. All she wanted was for her daughter to feel comfortable and safe.

"Yeah… cause she might get a fright." Dominic agreed as Thea nodded, beginning to feel Sofia's hand moving under hers, noticing her eyes starting to open. It was difficult to know those eyes couldn't see them. It was devastating.

"Hey, sweetie." Thea said softly, "Mom and dad are here." She told her as Sofia took her mother's hand.

Sofia's hand left her mother's, finding its way to her teddy bear which was sitting beside her, "Where did he come from?" Sofia asked in a quiet voice, taking her bear in both hands.

"We went home and brought you some things." Dominic told her.

"I brought some of your favourite pjs." Thea told her, keeping the tone light.

"I'm thirsty." Sofia said, feeling her throat dry, "And my head hurts." She said, touching her hand over her head, beginning to realise some of her hair had been shaved, "Did James cut my hair?" She questioned seriously as Thea smiled a little, turning to Dominic who also smiled. She seemed more interested in plotting her brother's revenge than the actual fact some of her hair had been shaved.

"No, baby. It wasn't James." Thea smiled, "The doctor had to cut some of your hair when you were in surgery. After your accident." She explained.

"I can't see anything. It's like I'm still sleeping." Sofia whispered as Thea nodded.

"I know." Thea nodded, "But we're right here, ok?" She said, putting her hand out as Sofia touched it.

"Just you and dad?" Sofia asked.

"Just us." Dominic said, putting his hand out as Sofia touched it.

"You're being so brave, sweetie." Thea nodded, blown away by her daughter's strength and tranquillity in such a frightening situation.

"I just wanted to see the cat." Sofia explained as Thea and Dominic looked at her.

"What cat?" Thea shook her head.

"It was across the street from Lily's." Sofia remembered, "Under a car." She nodded, "I ran over to see it." She said, "I don't know what else happened after that." She said as Thea turned to Dominic. She wasn't sure if it was more difficult knowing this was an accident. Knowing that it was just something that had unfortunately happened. Bad timing. The universe playing a trick on them.

"I didn't even get to pet it." Sofia said unhappily, looking straight ahead, "Where is James and Sam?" She asked.

"They're with your uncle Scott just now." Thea told her, "Just for now, until you feel a little better. The nice doctor is going to come round later and take you for some scans. Just to look at your head a little closer."

"Will I get medicine so I can see again?" Sofia asked, assuming she would.

Thea turned to Dominic, swallowing the lump in her throat as he ran his hand through his hair.

"Uh… well, the doctor is going to see what the best thing is for you to get better and get stronger." Dominic nodded.

"Baby, is there anything you want us to bring in for you?" Thea asked, holding Sofia's hand. She didn't want to let go of her. She had to make sure Sofia knew they were right there, right beside her, even if she couldn't see them.

"But I can't see anything." Sofia said tiredly, "Some hair." She said as Thea smiled, watching Sofia smirk a little, proud of her little joke. It was unbelievable to see her so strong. Her entire world was dark and she was still radiating so much light. They both wished they had her strength right now.

"I'll give you some of mine." Thea smiled.

"You have lots." Sofia nodded, "You don't need all of it." She determined as Dominic smiled.

"I don't." Thea agreed.

"I'm tired." Sofia admitted, leaning back in the bed, closing her eyes over as Thea watched her closely.

"I think we have to start making some calls now." Dominic whispered to Thea whilst Sofia began to doze off again.

"Yeah." Thea agreed, turning to him, "Why don't you call your brother first and update him? And then I'll take care of my family."

"Ok." Dominic nodded, "What about James and Sam?"

"Sam isn't going to understand." Thea shook her head, "Maybe we should wait until she goes for her scans."

"I'll give Scott a call just now, just to check in with the kids." Dominic told her, "And then we can figure out what to do next." He said as she nodded. They were very much taking things step by step, trying to figure out what was the best thing for Sofia. They knew their family would be devastated to know of her accident, and of the extent of her injury.

Dominic stepped out of the room to phone his brother whilst Thea stayed with Sofia.

"Can I not see because I hit my head?" Sofia asked. She was a bright nine year old. She could put one and one together.

"That's what the doctor thinks." Thea nodded, not wishing to lie to her, "When he takes you for these scans, it's going to help him get a better idea of what's going on. He's gonna see all in your brain. How cool?" She smiled.

"I don't like not knowing who's in the room." Sofia admitted as Thea nodded.

"It's just me, sweetie. Dad just stepped out for a minute to call uncle Scott." Thea said, "It's just me in the room." She nodded, feeling Sofia tug on her hand a little.

She knew what that little tug meant, and got onto the bed beside Sofia, feeling her snuggle into her tightly as Thea wrapped her arms around her and kissed her forehead gently.

"It's gonna be ok." Thea nodded. She couldn't know that for definite. At this moment, she felt grateful to be holding her baby girl, period. The accident could have been much worse. Even if this felt like the worst. Even if Sofia couldn't see. There always could have been worse. That didn't allow for them to diminish what was a truly devastating injury and situation to a little girl with the brightest future ahead of her.

"Mom." Sofia whispered.

"Yeah?" Thea said.

"I don't like this." Sofia admitted with fear. The constant darkness was beginning to startle her. Every time she blinked, she hoped the room would reveal itself finally, but it never did.

"I know." Thea nodded, "I know, baby." She sighed.