"Thank you, Cathy. You too!" Molly said lightly.
After Cathy had left, Molly didn't leave right away. She remained standing in the corridor and just watched Cathy walk towards the examination room - the same one that she had just come out of. She felt bad for her because she somehow knew what it was like to suffer from eye problems and what more hurtful was that Cathy's condition was worse than hers. She only turned to leave when Cathy finally stepped into the room, disappearing.
When Cathy entered the examination room, she grinned at Elias and cried in excitement, "You won't believe what just happened! I met Molly in the corridor!" She was still so hyped up from meeting Molly and it was obvious. "Really?" Elias asked, seemingly interested, "Did she know who you were?"
"Of course, not," Cathy shook her head and continued, "I don't think Brian's told her about me and I think I know his concerns. She might blame herself and feel guilty if she ever found out. And Brian wouldn't want that to happen and of course, I don't too. I think sometimes it's better to keep silent about things," she said insightfully.
"How do you say so? It's not like you can be 100% sure," Elias retorted. In Elias' point of view, he couldn't stomach the idea of donating his eyes to someone and not expect at least some gratitude in return.
Cathy squinted at him and lifted her chin haughtily, "I am sure! I know how much Brian loves Molly. He wouldn't want her to get hurt or suffer or anything," she said confidently.
As Elias started examining her eyes, he asked in a concerned tone, "Cathy, have you felt some kind of hatred towards Brian or Molly? Like even just a tiny bit?"
"No, never," she said without hesitation. She smiled again, full of life and excitement. She was seemingly lost in her own thoughts. After a moment, she spoke in a soft voice, "I've always appreciated this turn of events. Because Molly needed my eyes, my mom was able to see a doctor. Because she got well, she was able to take care of my brothers and sisters and they could all go to school now. Brian's been taking good care of me. I mean, I can't see clearly but at least, I'm not blind. And besides, I know you've been trying your best so that I can see again. There are so many good people around me who just wants to help so I truly believe that I'll get to see again. I really believe that one day I'll get to see the world again as clear as day," her eyes lit up as she spoke.
Elias was astonished by Cathy and what she had just said. He instinctively stopped examining Cathy as his mind drifted off. He'd always completely submerged himself in whatever medical study he had at the moment not because he had to but because he wanted to someday be known for his work. But ever since he had started working for Brian who often asked him to check up on Molly - he gradually became the opposite of who he was, suddenly he just wanted to help people and cure them.
"To be honest…" Cathy trailed off and her smile faded away, "I really hope Brian and Molly end up together. I'd really like to be able to go to their wedding and watch them get married," she said wistfully.
"You will, I'm sure of that," Elias said resolutely.
Back then when they were looking for an eye donor for Molly, they didn't have much choice because they were in a time crunch and Cathy's eyes matched Molly's perfectly. But for Cathy, it took quite a while before they could find a suitable donor for her, which was why she had amblyopia now. Although it wasn't completely incurable, it just made the possibility of Cathy's seeing clearly again a bit harder - almost a miracle.
Elias sighed as he continued to examine her eyes, unsure if he could make Cathy see clearly by that time.
*
A City Drug Control Center.
Daniel glared furiously at Eric, who was grinning cheekily at him. "What makes you think you can keep me here?" Daniel thundered.
"Because I want to," Eric spit back.
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Love Began with the First Meeting