“Wait, did you just say, ‘me too’?”
I let out a soft chuckle. “Javier encouraged me to give it a try. In the beginning, it was really awkward. Now, the more I pray, the more at peace I am. I realized I wasn’t necessarily on the fence about if God was real, but more about attending church and how I live my life.”
“Is that why you’re going to Javier’s? To see if you just need a different fit?”
Yes and no.
“Originally it was because I hadn’t worked out my feelings about God, but I’m good now. So, yes, now I just want the right fit for a church.”
“Are you okay at the hospital?” Val asks cautiously.
“I’m great. Promise. Whatever happens here, I know God will take care of me.”
“Wow. I’m so glad to hear that. He’ll watch over you, but I pray there’s nothing wrong and He heals you of the headaches.”
“Val...” My voice trails off. Maybe I shouldn’t ask this question. Do I really want to know the answer?
“Yes?”
Ask her.“If they tell me I’m going blind”—I lick my lips—“do you still want to be with me?”
“No offense, but I’m not with you for your eyesight. You can’t see me now, so I’m not going to run if you end up completely blind.” Her voice is so matter of fact. As if my eyesight has never even entered the equation.
I close my eyes, thanking God for sending Val into my life at the right moment. “It doesn’t bother you at all that I can’t see you?”
“Just because you can’t see me with your eyes doesn’t mean you don’tseeme. You said it yourself. I’ve never known anyone who gets me as much as you get me. Being able to truly be me is what I value, not your eyesight.”
“I do see you,” I whisper.
“And I see you. Plus, I plain like you, Jabari Hall. You make me laugh. You make me feel special. I’ve never felt this way in any of my past relationships.”
Good.She is special, and I want to be the one who makes her feel that way. I want to treasure her in all the ways I can for as long as she’ll let me.
The door opens and feet shuffle in.
“Hey, Doc just walked in. I’ll call you later.”
“I’ll be praying.”
We say our good-byes, and I hang up the phone.
“CT looks real good, Crank.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Not just good, butrealgood?”
“Yep. Remember the lesion on your occipital lobe from when the concussion happened?”
How could I forget? “Yeah.”
“It’s gone. Not sure why, but it’s gone.”
“Wait. Are you serious? What does that mean?” My heart speeds up.
“Not sure, but you’ll definitely want to follow up with your neurologist. Four Eyes is going to use the ER equipment to check out your eyesight. Then the docs here will prescribe some meds for the migraine.”
“Will it make me sleepy?”
“Probably. Why?”
