Page 8 of Rescuer

I wouldn’t mind looking at Halt again. If he was the only thing I could see, I would be happy for the rest of my life. All I had to remember him by was what he looked like twelve years ago, but even that image was fading in my mind. Renee told me that he was quite defined, still blond, and his eyes were as green as fresh, spring moss—if only I knew how green that was. She told me that if she wasn’t dating Ryan, she would totally claim Halt, but he was also too young for her. We spent many days speaking about this, and we would always end up having an argument about how Halt and I would be an amazing couple.

I would always disagree and end up not talking to her for a day before she broke my hard shell and had me laughing hysterically at her.

“Are you happy?” Halt asked, taking my hand.

“What do you mean?” I replied, unsure of what the hidden meaning was behind his question.

“Well, I know everything is different for you, but if you could, would you want to change it?” he asked.

“That depends,” I mused. “I don’t want to lose you,” I confessed. “I wouldn’t be the same without you. If it weren’t for you, I don’t think I would be here.” And that was the sad, honest truth. Halt gave me something to live for.

He grunted, his hand tightening around mine for a moment at my confession, as if he couldn’t imagine a world without me in it. “I feel the same way, but what if you could change that day? What if you had decided to stay at school with me and never been in the accident? Would you still be happy?” he asked.

I shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess things would be different, but this was supposed to happen. I was meant to lose my eyesight since the day I was born.” At least, that’s what I said to myself to help me cope.

I may not have liked it, but I tried my best to be happy. Maybe if I didn’t become blind, then we wouldn’t be as close as we are now. Maybe we would only be distant friends, like those people you always said hi to in the halls, but you never talked to them otherwise—just a quick “how are you”, but that was it. I didn’t want that.

“How can you be so positive? You never cease to amaze me,” he murmured, getting up and bringing me with him as the bell rang, signaling that we needed to get to class. I only smiled before aimlessly following him, his hand clasped tightly around mine.

“Halt?” I whispered halfway during our class.

“Do you want me to explain something?” he whispered back.

“Sort of, but it’s not about what we are learning.” He didn’t respond.

“Yes, Halt?” The teacher’s stern voice echoed throughout the quiet room.

“May I escort Noalie to the restroom?” he asked politely.

“Of course; here is a pass.”

“Hurry; we don’t have much time,” he urged, holding my hand as we walked down the hall.

“Are you happy?” I asked, holding onto his hand tighter. I was worried about his answer. Was he happy sticking by my side all the time? Didn’t he want something more?

“Has that been bothering you the entire period?” I nodded my head. “Of course, I am. You make my life interesting. If we weren’t best friends, I would have asked you out a long time ago.” My mind was reeling, so many thoughts running through my head.

Was Renee right? Was it possible for a guy like him to want a girl like me?

“So does that mean we can never be something more?” I asked hesitantly.

He sucked in a sharp breath of surprise. “Noah, I never knew that you wanted to be more than friends.” I heard him swallow. “Of course, we can be something more. I’ve wanted to ask you out since freshmen year.”

“Then what are you waiting for?” I giggled.

He stopped, and with his hands on my hips, he gently turned me to face him. “Noalie Blythe Evers, will you be my girlfriend?”

My cheeks flushed red at the confidence that rang in his quiet voice. “I thought you would never ask.” A sigh of relief escaped his lips as he pulled me into his arms for a hug.

I guess there was some hope in this world. Even if I couldn’t see, I could at least be happy.

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