Part 425: Brightly

December 7th, 2009

The snow fell softly outside. The hospital was one of the best in the Canadian countryside. Marita stared outside the window. Growing up in Los Angeles, she never really saw full blown snow. She would see in her former job as a flight attendant in various parts of the country but she never really looked at it. Not until this very moment. The feeling came from the hope and possibility that in a few days, her husband would be looking at it with her. Marita looked up to the clouds and saw the Sun finally break through them. The Latina gently felt of her cross around her neck and took this as a good omen. “Mrs. Largo?” a person said behind her.

Marita then turned from her haze and saw the nurse standing at the entrance to the special waiting room. “Yes?” she inquired.

“Your husband has been prepped for surgery,” the nurse beckoned, “You may speak with him before we bring him in.”

Marita smiled, then picked up her coat and followed the nurse. She pushed her way through two large double doors and followed the nurse through the hallway. She past by various rooms and walked along the pristine marble floors. She gently turned into the room marked LARGO and found her husband resting on the bed. Tony was just sitting there; white bandages over his eyes. He heard something and turned his head toward the direction of the noise. He said nothing, merely raised his hand. Marita quickly crossed the room and took her husband’s hand. “You okay?” he asked.

“Am I okay?” she slightly giggled, “No, Tony, my nerves are shot. I want this be over.”

The blind man took a deep sigh. “In an hour, one way or another . . .it will be over.” He whispered.

Marita then put her coat to the side and slid into the bed with her husband. Tony held her in his arms, and gently stroked her arm. He could tell by her sound and the soft wetness hitting his chest that she was crying. She gently squeezed his shirt, holding onto him. “Are you scared?” she whispered.

“A little.” He whispered back.

“No matter what happens, Tony, I’ll always love you.”

He gently kissed her on the forehead. “You didn’t have to say that but I appreciate it regardless.” He told her.

“Tony, you remember that time on the Island when we were searching for supplies in the water and you were flirting with me?” she smiled.

“I remember.” He smiled back.

“Shortly thereafter, I wondered why you were flirting with a girl you couldn’t see.” She nestled her head into his chest, “Now, I don’t care.”

“If it makes you feel any better, I also wondered how you could care for a man who couldn’t see you.”

“I suppose . . .that’s why I did fall for you,” she said, gently rubbing his cheek, “You couldn’t have liked me for my looks. You really did like me for me.”

“I would have fallen for you regardless,” he said, kissing her hand, “It was fate.”

“Yes,” she whispered.

Tony paused for a brief moment as he felt the sunlight caressing his face. He put his other arm around his wife and held her closer. “I want to walk with you on the beach and see the water with you,” he sniffed, “ I want to go to movie and see it with my own eye. There is so much more I want to see.”

“You will, Tony,” she held onto him, “We’ll take long drives with you driving. We’ll go to museums, we’ll go to zoos, we’ll go everywhere.”

“We . . .don’t know that.” He sniffed, “There is no guarantee this will work.”

“It will, Tony. It must!” she held him close.

“Marita,” he whispered, “I know you want me to see but you already said if it doesn’t work you won’t leave me. We can still have a great life together.”

“I know we would, Tony but I want you to be able to see . ..You . . . you must be able to see your child.”

Tony then froze. He slowly tilted his head toward her. Marita laughed a little bit as she sniffed. The blind doctor then held her closer and began to cry himself. They weren’t trying for a baby but now, out of the blue; Marita was pregnant. He was flooded with a mixture of emotions; happiness, fear, rage over not being able to see and love. Tony then kissed his wife, holding her closely. He started to cry himself. They were then interrupted by a knocking at the door. Marita turned and looked seeing the couple of nurses at the door. “We’re sorry to disturb you,” one of them whispered, “But it’s time.”

Marita shook her head and wiped her tears; getting off of the bed. Tony then took a deep breath and leaned into the bed; as the nurses unhooked the locks on the wheels. The Latina stood by as they secured her husband’s IV’s and got ready to move him. They started to scoot him toward the door. “Wait.” He stammered.

Marita then saw him holding out his hand and she quickly came over to clasp it. She gently stroked his hair as she could tell he was crying under the bandages. “Marita,” he whimpered.

“Tony, what’s wrong?” she sniffed, stroking his black hair.

“I can’t see!” he stammered, trying to hold in his fear, “Marita . . is the . . .is the sun shining this morning?”

The Latina looked toward the window as the sun appeared to echo into the room through the blinds. Marita smiled and wiped her tears; leaning down and kissing him on the forehead. “Brightly, Tony,” she smiled, “Brightly.”

Tony smiled as he squeezed her hand. “Our baby is going to be beautiful.” He told her.

“I love you so much.” She whispered.

“I love you too,” he then tilted back toward nurses, “ Okay, let’s do this.”

The nurses began to push him toward the door. Marita held onto his hand until he was out of reach and they gently let their fingertips glide against one another. The Latina then leaned against the door as they continued to carry him onward. She then turned back into the room and walked over toward the window. Marita gently let her head rest against the window pane as the tears gently flowed onto her cheeks. She prayed that Tony could regain his sight. She hoped that he would have the ability to see his child brought into the world. Long ago on the Island when Tony was ill and possibility dying; she prayed for God not to take him away.

In a sense, she was now praying for the same thing.