5 - Promise

I would have to face Finn again. And I wasn't going to do it blinded.

The next few days passed like a breeze. Diego and his dad, Matteo, took good care of me and my injuries healed faster each day. Sofia, his mother, wasn't keen on having me around. Thanks to my A+ in Spanish, I could understand that she saw me as a moocher, a temptress, and a demoness sent to steal her family away.

The old me would have left one morning, before anyone else woke up, so they'd be more peaceful but being blind meant they'd just have to find me passed out or even dead a few metres away. So even though it was insulting to me, I had to deal with it, depending on their kindness until I learn to survive on my own.

Diego would show me outside and around the house while I tried to remember where everything was so I could move a little by myself. The physician treating my injury showed up every day, carefully performing his duties as he wouldn't want to leave a scar. Matteo took me to the city to see an opthalmologist and a date was scheduled for surgery.

The day for the surgery came and both Diego and Matteo were at my side through it all. After the surgery, my eyes were bandaged so I still couldn't see. I got Matteo to have the hospital discharge me for fear I'd be seen by someone who recognizes me and when I got home, Sofia welcomed me with a hug and a meal and I realized that underneath her tough exterior, she was actually very sweet.

A week later, we went to the hospital to have the bandages removed and this time, she came along. While we waited for the doctor, I could feel their stares on me.

"Diego," I whispered, listening raptly as he walked over to me.

"Are you nervous?" he whispered back, placing his hand over mine and a smile brushed my lips as I shook my head.

"Only cause Mom and Dad keep staring at me like I'm some sort of criminal." He went quiet for a few seconds, then he spoke, telling them off.

"Mom, Dad, stop staring, you're making Rhea uncomfortable."

"Diego, let's go outside," Sofia spoke calmly yet she received a grumble from him.

"Why?" he exclaimed, "I wanna be the first person she sees after her bandages are removed!"

Sofia has always been strict and rarely compromised so I wasn't disappointed when I heard her next words. "Diego, outside now!" I bit my lip, forcing myself not to intervene as he shuffled out of the room reluctantly. Then I heard Matteo clear his throat, realizing that he was already sitting at my side.

He took my hand and held it with both hands and I gulped hard. This is the conversation where they ask me to do something unthinkable in return for their kindness and if I refused, they'd leave me worse than they found me. Maybe they wanted me to become a surrogate for them. Or did anyone among them need an organ transplant and mine happened to match? Would they put me in an induced coma if I refused?

"Rhea," he began and I felt my throat go dry, "on behalf of my wife and I, I have a favor to ask." He paused, perhaps waiting for my reply but even if I tried, the words wouldn't come out. "Do you promise to fulfill it?" he asked and I nodded slowly. I couldn't save Rita from a coma but if I could get a little time to get her to safety, I was willing to give even my life.

"Thank you," he said, sounding relieved. "This means so much to us. You won't regret it."

"You," I forced the words out of my mouth, "still haven't told me what it is."

"Oh yeah. It's nothing to be wary about. You'll find out after your bandages are removed. Just focus on that for now."

It sounded suspicious but I knew I didn't have a choice. For Rita, I'd do anything. "Can Diego come back in? I kinda want him to be the first person I see when I open my eyes, no offense to you and Sofia though."

"Technically you'll be seeing the doctor first, but whatever you say," he said, walking out of the room and immediately both Diego and my doctor walked in. He stood beside me while the doctor took off my bandages. After a few checks and tests, he determined my vision had fully returned but still set another appointment, then he left.

And finally, I got to see Diego. He had long black hair tied in a bun, full lashes, freckles that spread across his cheekbones, and teeth held together in place by braces. He was indeed a handsome young man. My favorite highlight though were his heterochromic irises, the green and amber so different yet in sync that all it screamed was beauty.

"Your eyes," we exclaimed at the same time, smiles forming on both our lips. I couldn't help but notice how cute he looked with his. "They're so beautiful.“

"Thank you, no one has ever called my eyes beautiful before," He muttered, his expression bittersweet.

I creased my brow, feigning shock. "Oh no, everyone else you've met were blind too?"

"I guess so." He giggled, melting my heart, then he paused, staring so deep into my eyes that I could see the blue of my irises reflecting in his. "Rhea, now that you're not blind anymore, are you going to leave me?"

I could sense the fear in his voice. Reaching out, I rubbed her hand on his head. "Of course not, handsome. I'll be your big sister forever."

"Promise?" he asked, lifting his pinky finger to me. I took it in mine, gently pressing my thumb against his, and planted a soft peck on it.

"Sealed with a kiss."