Page 11 of Rescuer

CHAPTER5

Pressure

We had somehow gotten lost—atleast, that was what Halt said. I was waiting for him to make me tell him my secrets so we could go home. It would be something he’d pull.

“Halt, I can’t tell you some things, and it’s—" I started to say before he quickly covered my mouth and turned up the radio.

‘New high-tech technology allows forty-four-year-old to regain sight as well as an eight-year-old suffering from LCA. The treatment has now come to North Carolina Duke University Hospital.’

Suddenly, being ‘lost’ made sense.

Silence rang in the truck. My heart was knocking erratically against my chest. Was it possible? Were people truly able to see again?

“Noah, that means…” Halt trailed off, his hand dropping to my lap where he grabbed mine.

I swallowed thickly. “I could see again.” And I wasn’t sure how I felt about that.

We were silent for a while. The truck didn’t move the entire time. Halt finally cleared his throat.

“What are you thinking?”

“Nothing.” I heard him sigh.

“Don’t lie to me.”

I shook my head, a deep frown pulling at my lips. “I don’t want to talk about it.” And that was the truth. I didn’t. I wasn’t even sure I wanted to think about the opportunity. “Can you just take me home?” I whispered. I was scared of all the suddenly new possibilities.

“Yeah, sure.” Soft music played the rest of the ride home, and I couldn’t help but wish I could see his face or just to gaze at the passing scenery. After hearing the news thing, my mind was racing with endless possibilities. If I had the opportunity to regain my sight, I might be able to see my family again.

I would be able to see Halt again.

It was minutes later that he turned off the truck and got out. I patted down the door, finding the handle and opening my side, wanting to get out before he could help me. I wanted to prove that I wasn’t incapable of anything.

“Noah, let me help you.” His hands grabbed mine, steering them to his arm so he could guide me into the house.

I pulled away.

“I can do it by myself.” My voice was bitter. I suddenly felt helpless, and I didn’t understand why. But my emotions were in turmoil.

“But—"

“I can do it,” I ground out, pushing him away so I could remember the way that everyone led me when they helped me into the house. It couldn’t be that hard.

“Noah, please,” Halt begged, his fingertips grazing my back, letting me know he was there to catch me if I failed.

“Just let me try,” I whispered, feeling tears fill my eyes. Suddenly, I could truly feel the loss of my blindness as if it had just happened yesterday. And it was ripping me apart.

People were regaining their eyesight, and I couldn’t. And then, part of me was terrified to.

“You don’t have to prove anything to me. I love you the way you are.” A couple of tears slipped down my cheeks as those words washed over me.

“I want to be normal for you.” I turned around, falling into his arms. Angie had been normal. She’d been able to flirt with him. It wasn’t fair that I couldn’t.

“I don’t want you to be normal, Noalie. I just want my girl—all pieces of you.”

He held me in his arms, whispering soothing words into my ears as I quietly cried into his chest.

“Please don’t tell my parents?” I begged.

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