Gabri
The enve’s optometrist was a cyclops, which was a little surprising. Not only had I never met any of
the
famous one-eyed n, I’d never heard of one going into any kind of medicine.
The most I’d known about them was that they were mountain folk who kept to themselves.
“You’re in good hands with Dr. Alonius,” said the receptionist, a petite Fae with a cheerful smile. “He’s
been
part of Brightsky almost since it began. Have a seat. He’ll be with you in just a few minutes.”
“I’ve been putting this off,” I said with an embarrassed smile. “I’m not sure why.”
As I took a seat in thefortable waiting chair, I felt the urge to run out of the office rising in me again.
It had taken everything I had to make the appointment in the first ce, and now that I was here, all I
could
think about was how horrible it would be if something bad happened to my eyes. No matter how I tried
to tell myself it was foolishness, I couldn’t stop myself from imagining, over and over, that when the
doctor put the
lenses in front of my eyes to test my vision, the ss would break and shatter splinters into my
eyeballs.
It was enough to make me run screaming from the waiting room. Only the pain in my head kept me in
the
chair. I knew something was going on with my vision, and I didn’t want to risk it being something
important.
In the office, Dr. Alonius beamed a broad smile at me. Hisrge eye, centered in the middle of his bald
forehead, shone with good humor through the single bifocal lens. I felt much more at ease.
“Go ahead, ask me,” he said as he settled himself on a rolling stool. “Everyone wants to.”
‘I’m not sure…..”
“Why does a man with only one eye go into optometry?” Dr. Aloniusughed with a hearty guffaw.
“Well,
the answer, my friend, is that when you only have one, you want to be extra sure you take good care of
it. I
decided I wanted to do the same for as many others as I could.”
“You’re making me feel a lot better,” I admitted. “Ive been having some weird anxiety about my eyes. I
know an eye exam shouldn’t hurt, and yet…”
“No fear. I’ve got you.” Dr. Alonius scooted forward to begin the exam.
It wasn’t the first time I’d had my eyes examined. Wolves don’t tend to need sses until we get much
older, but a number of years ago I’d suddenly had a re up of strange vision anomalies that felt very
much like what had been going ontely. I told the doctor about them when he rolled his stool out of the
way after he’d finished the exam.
“I can’t see anything going on, so I can set your mind at ease about problems with your eyes
themselves. As for needing a prescription,you’ve got superb vision, Gabri. No need for sses. Not
even readers.” The doctor tilted his head to study me. His expression was calm, but his brow furrowed
in concern. “Have you seen
the Brightsky medical staff about the headaches?”
A
“Should I?”
“If you’re truly concerned, but…” He coughed lightly into his fist. “Look, it’s a bit out of line for me even
to say anything, so feel free to put me in my ce. But is it possible you’re having…anxiety attacks?”
My eyes went wide, and my eyebrows went up.
Way up. “Anything’s possible.”
Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!
“It’s just that I know you and your family have had some hardships to deal with. All of that tension could
lead to headaches and changes in your vision. I do want to relieve you, though. I can see nothing to
worry about with your eyes themselves.”
I was relieved, and let out a breath I’d been holding while I waited to hear the verdict on my vision. It
stuttered out of me on a flurry of soft giggles that grew louder, until I had to p a hand over my mouth
to
hold them back. After a moment, Dr. Alonius joined me. The two of usughed hard for a minute more
before
we tapered into afortable silence.
“That was unexpected,” he said with another bright grin.
liked this man. He had a calming, easy demeanor and gentle way about him that was so different than
Orion had ever been. I blushed, realizing I’d been staring.
“I’ll walk you out,” Dr. Alonius said as he stood and offered me his hand.
I took it. His was so much bigger that it fully engulfed mine. He squeezed mine gently before letting it
go.
“Maybe I should get your number,” he said quietly as we stared at each other. “Just in case,I mean.
Um, if any of these readings turn out to be…um… of concern. I could call you.”
I couldn’t hold back my smile. “I’d like that.”
With a spring in my step, I headed back home.
For the first time in what felt like an entire lifetime, it felt like I might actually have a good future ahead
of
me. A home here in Brightsky.
Friends.
The possibility of something even more.
Happiness.