the bed, finally managing to

for the blind, Lindsay dialed the one number

o gentle concern. "You finally shook that cold? I was planning to visit this weekend, b

t aside. Keeping her tone steady, she said, "Vera, you mentioned you're interning under D

for his razor‑sharp mind and cold demeanor since childhood. At fourteen, he'd created a technology that sent the Dix

e. He had finished a dual medical program faster than anyone expect

y families had clashed for generations. Matthew would nev

ould see. She silently prayed that when Anthony recogni

a stayed quiet for a long, heavy

th catching. "What was

ive him the news, but he told me you were sick with a terrible cold and couldn't make it in. The ma

s whitened. A rare donor match-dismissed because of a cold she never even had. No wonder Matthew had asserted that her eyes would never heal. He had been pu

self before she shattered. The Riley family practically ran half of Eighstin. If Matthew sensed even a whisper

in, her voice was soft, delicate, almost bashful. "Vera, if I get my sight back, Matthew

d. "Oh, say no more. You two are hopelessly

Vera settled the details quickly-Vera would

come to Lindsay. The familiar warmth beside her,

finally

olled down the driveway, V

instantly. She smiled, opened the gate, and w

ing through the car. Slowly, the sound eased the tightness in Lindsay's chest. Drained fro

de Anthony's office, Lindsay fel

and cheerful, "this is the patient I mentione

ice responded, "Pl

and a reassuring squeeze. "I got called to the ER, so

" Lindsa

ith the scent of disinfectant-sharp and clinical-

to re

th on her cheek,

er eyes. She recognized the

ponse to light," Lindsay remar

was his on

he warned, "This mi

ong. The instant the probe pressed to her eye, a wave of searing pain crashed over her-the same

her. Her hand closed instinctively around the first thing she found. But unbeknowns

zed tighter, clinging to th

from his chest. "So how lo