“Two weeks ago,” I said, “I woke up and saw light. By the bedroom window. Just a little patch of gray. And then it kept getting brighter. I started seeing shapes. Shadows. Last Monday, I went to see Dr. Morgan by myself, and he ran all the tests, and he said it’s real. My vision is improving. He doesn’t know how far it’ll go. But it’s real.”
Ashton looked completely stunned.
“You can see?”
“Not clearly. Not yet. Everything’s blurry. Like a shower door. But I can see shapes. I can see colors. I can see some details. And if I make the words big enough on my phone, I can read.”
He stood up. Then he sat down again. Then he put both hands on top of his head.
“Two weeks,” he said. “Two weeks?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
I gave him a small smile. My face was still wet.
“Because I wanted to surprise you,” I said. “I wanted to wait until I could finally see your face. I wanted to look right at you and tell you. I had this whole plan. I was going to make chicken parmesan.”
He let out a sound that was half a laugh and half a sob.
“Chicken parmesan,” he said.
“And candles.”
His voice got very unsteady.
“Can you see me right now?”
I nodded.
“Your face is still blurry,” I said.
He covered his mouth with his hand.
“But I can tell you’re crying.”
For a long moment, Ashton just stared at me from across the coffee table. Over the divorce papers. Over the suitcase.
Then he started laughing. Through his tears. A real laugh. The first one I’d heard out of him in months.
“Sutton,” he said. “I’ve been praying for this for two years. Every single night. Every night for two years, I’ve asked for this.”
He got up off the couch. He came around the coffee table. He stepped right over the suitcase. And he knelt down in front of my chair and wrapped his arms around me.
We held each other for a long time. Longer than we’d held each other in months. Maybe longer than we had in years.
Lila Hart is a dedicated Digital Archivist and Research Specialist with a keen eye for preserving and curating meaningful content. At TheArchivists, she specializes in organizing and managing digital archives, ensuring that valuable stories and historical moments are accessible for generations to come.
Lila earned her degree in History and Archival Studies from the University of Edinburgh, where she cultivated her passion for documenting the past and preserving cultural heritage. Her expertise lies in combining traditional archival techniques with modern digital tools, allowing her to create comprehensive and engaging collections that resonate with audiences worldwide.
At TheArchivists, Lila is known for her meticulous attention to detail and her ability to uncover hidden gems within extensive archives. Her work is praised for its depth, authenticity, and contribution to the preservation of knowledge in the digital age.
Driven by a commitment to preserving stories that matter, Lila is passionate about exploring the intersection of history and technology. Her goal is to ensure that every piece of content she handles reflects the richness of human experiences and remains a source of inspiration for years to come.