Page 123 of Gabriel

“Gabriel,” she protested. “What are you doing?”

“I need to see if…”

I couldn’t even finish the fucking statement. I blinked once, twice, then stared—hard—willing something to come into focus.

Nothing.

“I… I can’t see,” I rasped. “I can’t see you.”

My throat caught around the words. The air felt colder all of a sudden, despite her hand still wrapped around mine. The silence that followed was heavy with things neither of us wanted to speak yet.

I felt her breath hitch, but she didn’t let go. She didn’t say it was going to be okay. She just held on.

And somehow, that told me everything.

“Why can’t I see you, Amara?”

She was quiet again, and this time, the silence dragged. I heard her shift, the faint creak of the chair, the brush of fabric. I imagined her staring at my eyes, at the bandages or whatever they’d done to me. I imagined her trying to find the right words and failing.

Then she exhaled slowly, like the words had been trapped behind her ribs too.

“There was shrapnel,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. I could feel her heat, and I realized she was putting the bandage back over my eyes. “When the explosion went off… Most of it hit your shoulder, but a piece—maybe more—hit near your eyes. The surgeons did everything they could and now we just have to wait.”

My stomach turned. “Did everything,” I echoed hollowly. “That means it wasn’t enough.”

She hesitated. “No, it means the optic nerve needs time to heal. Once it does, we’ll know more.”

“So they think it might be permanent?”

She sighed. “They really don’t know.”

“I might never see your face again,” I whispered, struggling with the truth. There’d be no more smiles to memorize. No light. No color. Just black. “How long have I been like this?”

“Four days,” she murmured. “You’ve been in and out. They kept you sedated because of the pain and the risk of swelling. Your shoulder healed up nicely, and your eyes?—”

She faltered while a thousand questions swirled behind my teeth, but none of them made it out. I just lay there, frozen, letting the silence consume me.

“You’re alive, Gabriel. That’s the most important thing. Your vision will return. I really believe that, and you must too.”

I wanted to believe her. I wanted to agree. I really did.

But all I could think about was how I’d never see her again.

She squeezed my hand again, tighter this time. “Remember how you told me you always focus on the positives?” she said softly. “I’m asking you…beggingyou, please focus on the positives and we’ll get through this together.”

“Together?” I repeated.

There was no hesitation from her. “Yes, together.”

“Who else is here?” I asked, my voice scraping out of my throat. “I thought I heard my brother’s voice… Raphael?”

She stilled and her fingers twitched slightly around mine. “Yes, Raphael and Sailor are here. Kian too. And… others.”

I turned my head, the motion slow and uncertain. “They’re in the room right now?”

“No, they’re right outside, in the hallway. Want me to call them in?”

I hesitated, not sure how I felt about being seen like this. I still had to process everything and come to terms with being seen as weak, being seen as a… target.