“Xander,” she whispers with her eyes closed.
I brush my hand across her hair. “I’m right here. Open your eyes for me.”
Her eyes open and then shut again. “Bright,” she whispers.
“I know, baby, but you need to keep them open. Let me help you.” I cover her eyes so they are semi-shaded from the light. “Open your eyes now, and I’ll move my hands slowly.”
She moans. “Everything hurts.”
I tilt my head down so I can see her eyes through my hand. “I know, baby, I know. I need you to open your eyes so you can get better. Come on, Charlotte.”
Her eyes slowly open, and this time she doesn’t shut them.
“Good girl. Okay, I’m going to move my hand just a little, and it will get brighter. Look at your feet and not the ceiling.”
Her eyes shut.
“Open your eyes,” I tell her sternly.
She opens them quickly.
“Good. Lookat your feet.”
She tries to focus on her feet.
“Good. You’re doing good, Charlotte. It’s going to get brighter.”
“Wait,” she whispers.
“Okay.”
She grabs my hand with hers, shuts her eyes, and brings my hand to her lips.
A tear slides down my cheek, and I wipe it away on my arm. I bend down and kiss her forehead. “You have to wake up, sweetheart. Wake up so I can help you, okay?”
“Mm-hmm,” she mumbles.
I put my hand back over her eyes, but I don’t shield as much light this time. “Look at your feet, baby.”
She opens her eyes and stares at her feet.
“Okay, good. I want you to keep your eyes open, okay?”
“It hurts,” she whimpers, and a tear rolls down her cheek.
My heart is ripping through my chest, seeing her in so much pain. “I know. But I need you to keep them open.”
“Okay,” she whispers.
“Good, Charlotte. You’re doing so good.” I kiss her on the forehead again and move my hand completely away.
She blinks a few times.
“Keep them open, Charlotte.”
She continues to blink until she is staring at her feet. Slowly, she looks over at me.
I bend down and kiss her, stroking her hair. “You’re doing so good, baby.”
