DAMOND CHRIS

Confusion washed over me, and frustration bubbled beneath the surface. “But you told me I needed a cornea transplant. You said you were searching for a donor.

 Are you implying that I’m not completely blind?” My voice wavered, a storm of emotions churning inside me.

“Sir, please let me explain,” he urged, a note of sincerity in his tone.

  

I felt a surge of impatience. “Then go ahead,” I pressed, wanting answers, needing clarity.

“I’ve just discovered that your blindness may be temporary. Each time we run your eye tests, the results are promising, indicating that your eyes are in good condition. You don’t need a cornea transplant after all.”

The weight of his words struck me like a lightning bolt. “Are you only telling me this now? I’ve been blind for nearly 20 years! I don’t even know what my wife looks like,” I blurted out, the floodgates of my anger barely held in check.

“Young master, have you noticed any blurriness in your vision? That’s actually a positive sign—it suggests improvement. You merely need to persist with your medication. The new treatment has undergone rigorous testing and has proven to be entirely effective. I’ll ensure it’s delivered to you without delay,” he assured, his voice steady and reassuring.

I didn’t respond; I simply ended the call, my mind racing with the implications of what I’d just heard. 

So, my blindness might only be momentary? Just days ago, I had caught a brief glimpse of light filtering through my window as I awakened—a surreal, fleeting moment. But why had I suddenly plunged back into darkness? How could this be real?

“Daisy, how does she look to you? And my parents—are they still young or have the years aged them?” A torrent of thoughts spiraled in my mind. After two long decades shrouded in darkness, I felt lost and bewildered. Could this truly be hope? Was it possible that I would regain my sight?

“Sir, sir, sir!” Moore’s voice broke through the haze, snapping me back to reality. 

“Sir, we’ve arrived,” he announced as I felt the car come to a halt. I opened the door and stepped out, grounding myself in the familiarity of the bustling office environment as I walked inside, my heart still racing with possibility.

FLASHBACK  

I was once a carefree boy, full of joy and uninhibited laughter, admired by friends and family alike. However, it was my older brother, Desmond, who held a special place in my heart. 

We shared a bond that seemed unbreakable, often venturing out together for weekend adventures, our laughter echoing in the warm sunlight. 

We looked remarkably alike, though Desmond possessed a striking handsomeness and a charm that could draw people in effortlessly.

At school, the attention he garnered was extraordinary. Teachers praised his intelligence and charisma, while girls gravitated toward him as if he were a magnet, eager to bask in his glow like playful puppies responding to their favorite human. I often marveled at the way he could light up a room with just a smile, while I lived in the comfortable shadow of his popularity.

But everything changed on a fateful day that would linger in my memory forever. Our lives took a sharp turn when my dad was hospitalized following a sudden and terrible accident. 

The news shattered our family’s sense of normalcy and left an air of uncertainty hanging over us. My mom, sister, brother, and I rushed to the hospital, our hearts heavy with worry and confusion.

As we left the sterile, clinical environment of the hospital, I found myself lagging behind my family, lost in thoughts of my dad’s condition. Just as I was stepping out into the bright, blinding sunlight, I heard my brother’s voice rise above the murmurs of the bustling hallway.

 “Damond, behind you!” Desmond called out, urgency lacing his tone. At that moment, I realized my carefree days were slipping away, replaced by a reality that demanded my attention and resilience. 

It was then that I caught sight of a car hurtling toward me, its headlights cutting through the dusk like a knife. A jolt of shock coursed through my body, rendering me momentarily paralyzed with fear. I stood there, wide-eyed and rooted to the spot, unable to process what was happening. 

Just when it seemed inevitable that I would be struck, my brother shot out of nowhere, his instincts kicking in as he dashed toward me with an urgency fueled by love. In a split second, he reached me and forcefully shoved me aside, his action brimming with bravery and desperation.

I narrowly escaped the collision, but the momentum of the push sent me sprawling to the ground. I hit the pavement hard, my cheekbone colliding with the rough surface. A sharp pain shot through my face, and I could feel warmth around my eyes as I realized I had gotten injured in the fall.

 I felt the warmth of blood and heard vague voices saying, "Ambulance, rescue, please," before everything went black and I fainted.