I couldn't believe how fast the sun had set. Though my vision was blurred by Alex's brutal attacks several months ago, I still had the same spirits that I had before.

Martin was now a father to Marlin. I held my little nephew for the first time in the HQ, a bit scared of losing the child in my arms. Martin had me sit down at a desk with a blanket over the edge so if I dropped the baby, the child would land on a soft surface.

I watched through his cloudy vision as the lights of the Tortuga went out. I stood fully blind, not knowing what had happened. Then, I felt a warm hand on my arm, "CK?"

"Aviva... What's wrong?"

"It's bedtime. I'll lead you to bed."

"Night time again? But it was just day."

I couldn't tell if Aviva was smiling. But her voice scared me, "It's okay, Chris. Let's just get you off to bed."

I felt comfort on my hands and I quickly sat down. I looked into the darkness and said, "It just doesn't feel right to be blind anymore, Aviva. I can't tell where I am, or what I'm doing... I can't creature adventure anymore... Aviva?"

Silence filled my ears. I started to cry, "Aviva? Anyone?" I felt the blankets about me and the pillow under my head. Finally I curled myself on my side and cried myself to sleep.

Morning came quickly. I sat up and looked around. The room was still cloudy, I wished highly to see my life again. I stood up and felt my way to the door. But got lost in the midst of walking. I cried out in pain and I heard the door behind me open, "Chris?"

"Martin. Where am I?"

"You're in your bedroom, Chris. Hang on, I'm coming."

I felt Martin tuck his arm under mine. Martin said, "Are you alright?"

"No... Last night, Aviva left me on my bed... I was talking, but she was gone."

"That's nothing like Aviva. You might not remember what had happened. I'm sure Aviva might have not heard you."

I followed Martin's lead to the HQ. I felt a breath of relieve as I heard Marlin's baby cries. Aviva said, "Oh, thanks, Martin. How did you sleep, Chris?"

"I slept okay... I guess," I answered as I stumbled about. I felt two different-sized hands on each of my arms. Instantly, I cried, "Martin?"

"It's me and Aviva. We caught you."

I was sat on a chair. Then I bursted, "I'm sick and tired of sitting around. I want to do something!"

Aviva's voice answered, "Chris, but you're blind. You'll get lost easily and get hurt greatly. And when you get lost, you'll end up in a strange place and get seriously hurt by man, beast, or object."

All I could do was frown, "I want to see my world again. All I see is blurry cloud effects. I see little light. Will I be able to see again?"

Then, I heard a shuffle and felt a hand on his knee, "Chris, listen. The doctors told us there was nothing we can do anymore. We lost your sight quickly than we could capture it."

I sighed, "I'll never see my family again?"

"Oh, you can be around us, but you can't see us."

I heard Martin walk away. I could hear Aviva's chair and hearing Marlin's cried getting softer and softer. I sighed as I thought, 'I wish I could see my nephew...'

"Chris?"

"What?"

Koki answered, "Maybe we can get you a seeing-eye dog that could get you around."

I groaned, "No... I just want some company, and see them. That's all."

"CK, I know you're frustrated. But realize that some blind people are actually happy being blind. You're new at it."

"But Aviva, being blind is the worst. I can't see anything... I have heard how some blind people have gotten married, but... how? You're blind and you don't know what your mate looks like... The same goes to a poor child who has never seen his parents."

He felt a tender touch on his arm, he sighed, "I just want to see my family... my brother and his."

"I know, CK, but you need to realize that you can't have everything in life."

I sat on the chair, playing with some thin string that my hands have explored. I felt my world shattered to pieces as I slowly let the tears flow out of my eyes.

My chin was lifted slowly and I felt a beautiful plant of someone's lips on my forehead, "It's okay, Chris. We're still hear for you."

I wanted to calm down with Aviva's hands still holding me, but she had to finish up her daily work. I stayed in my chair, and listened to the quiet humming around me.

After a while, I heard someone coming towards me. I was a bit nervous but the voice reassured me, "It's me, honey."

"Mother?"

I felt arms being wrapped around me. I hide my face in my mother's breasts, unashamed, and started to cry. Her arms stayed about me and her hands tried to comfort me by rubbing my back. I didn't want comfort, I wanted my sight.

After a short while, my tears were slowing down. Mother was still rubbing my back, speaking whispers into my ears. I was a bit calmed down, but still had my face hidden.

I opened my eyes, hoping to see my mother. But all I saw was darkness. I burst out crying again, and felt her arms about me once more.

"William, he's crying about his sight... I think he was actually trying to see me."

"Chris... can you look... I mean..." my father sighed deeply, I heard. I stopped crying and looked up into darkness and heard my father clearly, "Alex was finally sentenced for his crime, son. He has fifteen years in prison. Sadly, to me, that wasn't enough. I testified and told the judge that you went blind because of his brutal attacks. The judge wasn't surprised, but he surprised your mother and I. He asked Alex about his bank account, and of course, being rude and cruel he didn't answer, but his lawyer filed that information and we were given his account number with the judge's signature."

I sighed. That was no news for me. My father breathed gently, I could tell. I rested my chin on my mother's collarbone and listened as my father continued, "We went to Doctor Backson to explain the case. And there could be a way to bring your vision back."

I jerked up into stillness. I could tell where my father was, but I didn't know if I was looking directly at him.

"There is a procedure which could take hours to accomplish. It's a surgery that doctors repair your eyes. It may sound strange, but they can actually 'heal' the eyes. And if the first surgery failed, the second surgery is that someone willingly went blind to donate their own eyes. It sounds gross, but some people could do that. And the judge that we talked to, he agreed that Alex's vision could be taken care to take you back into our world."

I answered, "What happens then?"

"Then, your eyes would have to heal in dim lights for a few months and slowly open to light like the sunlight. It'll be a while, but your eyes will get used to it."

I didn't smile. I was scared of surgeries due to numerous cases that almost killed me. I rested my head under my mother's neck and close my blind eyes, not that I didn't realized it, but I fell asleep soundly.

That evening, I woke up in a dark world. I was overall terrified and begged someone to help me, else I'll fall. I couldn't tell what time it really was, or what room I was in, but I did know, no one was with me.

I cried and cried out for help. I felt gravity pushing me and nothing catching me. I cried out in pain when I felt a surface below me. As I tried to get up, my right arm cracked and screamed, making me cry out in agony.

I heard thundering in the distance. I was crying and screaming for help. I heard a click and a sham, and I realized I must have been in my bedroom.

"CK!"

I tried to sit up, but I couldn't, "Aviva... Help me!"

"I'm here. Hold still. Let me unwrap you from these blankets."

I felt my body become free. I squirmed as cried, "My arm is hurting!"

I could feel her hands under my arms. I stood up, with her help, and cried myself over. I felt the bed and said, "Everything hurts!"

"Chris, you have fallen off your bed... You got so wrapped up in your blankets that as you fell, the tightness of the blankets snapped your leg and arm. Now let me help you get relaxed and I'll get the first aid."

"I need my sight really bad!"

"Chris, we're here for you."

"What time is it?"

A long silence scared me. Aviva answered as she rubbed my cheek with her warm hand, "It's midnight."

I wanted to cry. But her hand was so warm, I couldn't. She said, "I'm going for the aid."

"NO... STAY WITH ME! I don't want to be alone, Aviva."

Aviva said as I was laid back on my bed, "Martin is here with you. He's on your left side. He's terrified, so that's why he didn't say anything."

I felt a strong hand cup mine and I said, "Martin..."

"I'm here, bro... You really scared me."

"I want my vision so bad... I was scared myself. I didn't know where I was."

"Chris, are you afraid of the dark?"

"What?"

"I'm just asking... ever since you went blind you have had countless nights waking up, screaming for help. It's like you were blindfolded as Alex punched you out of this world."

"I am afraid, Martin... Is there any light on?"

"Not really. We have a dimmed light."

"Turn on the brightest light... I really want to see it."

"But you can't."

I heard Martin's choked words. I knew he had a lump in his throat. I sat up with my sore right arm and hugged up to Martin's chest. I felt his arms about me and his breathing blew my hair in all directions. I could hear his heart racing from my accident. I let my eyes pour down tears.

Aviva came back in and Martin told me so. I really wanted to see her. I felt her hands on my legs until I cried out for my left foot. Then, I felt cold compresses and medicine and finally a bandage. Then, I felt her come closer to me. I reached out for her, despite the pain in my arm and I felt her hug me close to her.

I felt her breasts as like I felt my mother's earlier. I hid my face in her jacket. I had no tears to let go, but I needed the comfort.

After a short while, Martin went back to bed. I heard the trashed stuff being thrown away. I said, "Aviva... Are you still there?"

"Yes, Chris. I'm closing the first aid now."

"Can you stay with me? I mean... I'm scared of the dark now and I'm terrified of hurting myself even worse. "

There was no answer. Finally, I started to cry out loud, until I felt my bed being messed with.

"Chris, stop crying. I'm still here. I'm on your left side now."

I quickly turned and moved my bandaged arm over to her and pulled the shocked girl closer to me. I got so comfortable in my position. I felt for her hand, which she gave to me in turn, and I tuck hers around me and I got closer. I closed my blind eyes once again, whispering, "Keep me from the edge."

"I will. Now get back to sleep."