Page 6 of Rescuer

They were both hit by the truck. I heard the doctor say something about the driver being drunk and speeding. Even though I had no idea what being drunk meant, I knew it was bad, and it was his fault that my Noah couldn’t see me anymore.

I took a seat on the pull-out couch before closing my eyes. And I said a little prayer to God for Noah to see again when she woke up.

It was all too much. Everyone was crying, and I couldn’t handle it. I didn’t know how to handle my pain. Ryan was here, too, trying to comfort Renee who was crying endlessly for her brother and sister.

“What’s going on?” Charlie’s voice echoed through the room, making my eyes open immediately. I turned to look at Charlie who was looking around the room in confusion.

“Why is everyone crying?” he asked, looking at Renee who had gotten up from her chair. She ran over to his side, throwing herself at him. He caught her easily and hugged her, letting her cry.

“T-there was a-a car a-accident.” She sobbed.

“Where is Noalie?” he asked, looking around the room. His gaze immediately fell on his youngest sister.

How was it fair that he could still see, but my Noah couldn’t?

“She’s going to be okay, but—" Renee couldn’t finish her sentence, unable to process the information. Saying it made it seem more real.

Noah couldn’t see anymore.

“But what?” Charlie demanded, looking worried and beginning to get angry.

“She’s blind,” Renee whispered, but the room was so quiet that we all heard it. “She can’t see, Charlie!” she wailed.

We all heard the sharp intake of breath that Charlie took, and we all heard the silent sob that left Noalie's throat.

We thought she was asleep when, in reality, her eyes had just been closed, and she heard everything.

She knew she couldn’t see anymore.

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