Page 34 of Light in Your Eyes (Romero Brothers #1)

Layla

A sigh leaves my lips while I’m staring out the window. My gaze darts to Kellan, who is taking his morning jog in the backyard.

I never thought that I would fall for Kellan Romero so easily, but I can’t lie to my heart. He has such a special place in it, and I never felt this way about any other man before.

Our kiss yesterday is still very much on my mind, and my knees go weak every time I think about that.

A part of me knows that this feeling for him is dangerous because I don’t know what will happen to us in the future, since our worlds are so different. But another part of me, the majority of it, wants what my heart wants. It’s too late now to deny my feelings for Kellan.

I can’t help but think about his future too.

I want him to be happy.

Stas’ words echo back in my mind. “The damaged corneas caused Kellan a complete vision loss, but it still can be treated through a cornea transplant.”

It turns out that Kellan’s blindness isn’t something that’s totally incurable. There’s still hope that Kellan can have his sight again.

However, Stas also said some things that I have to take note.

“Both Jaxon and Kellan were still really young at that time, so Jaxon could be mistaken because the condition of Kellan’s health was far more complicated than that.”

What bothers my mind is the reason Kellan stopped having that faith.

Stas said that the accident caused Kellan too much trauma that made him want to forget about any hope he had left, including the possibility of him having his sight back.

Kellan wouldn’t be able to bear it if he had to experience being crushed all over again.

I sit on the bed and open my phone. Since I heard the fact from Stas, I’ve been searching all over the internet about Kellan’s case.

If what Stas said — what Jaxon believed — is true, that Kellan’s blindness is caused by damage to the cornea, then there’s still hope that it can be treated by corneal transplantation.

I scroll through the articles I found while my heart beats faster in anticipation.

Corneal transplantation is a surgical procedure that replaces a damaged cornea with healthy donor tissue. It can restore vision in a person who is blind because of corneal disorders.

In Kellan’s case, it was caused by the accident that left the cornea permanently scarred, which resulted in complete loss of vision.

Although there are always risks and complications, I believe that there’s still hope for Kellan. I want him to have his light back so that he doesn’t have to live in darkness forever.

While I’m lost in my thoughts about the article I’m reading, the door opens. Kellan walks into the room.

I swallow. I know that this is a sensitive topic, and that Jaxon has tried to persuade Kellan about this. Still, I can’t help but ask.

“Kellan.” I call as he sits on the couch. He’s untying his sneakers shoelace. “Can I ask you something?”

Kellan doesn’t say anything, and I take it as a yes.

“Have you ever thought about seeing a doctor again to consult about your eyes?” the question leaves my mouth.

Kellan immediately stops what he’s doing. He frowns at me, and I sigh. I approach him.

I drop to my knees, helping him untie the shoelace. “I was talking to Stas not long ago about the accident that caused you to lose your sight, and I heard from him that Jaxon once talked to you about the possibility of your regaining your sight again.”

Kellan goes stiff, and I keep talking while putting off his shoes. “Why didn’t you try what Jaxon suggested? I heard that there’s still hope — ”

“That’s nonsense,” Kellan says bitterly, standing up. He turns his back to me, facing the window.

“Why did you say so?” I ask while my heart is beating fast.

“Fenrir talked to the doctor,” Kellan speaks hoarsely. “And the doctor was positive that my blindness was permanent.”

That information surprises me. “But, Jaxon said--”

“Jaxon was still a kid at that time,” Kellan cuts me off. “ He didn’t even understand the conversation he overheard.”

I go silent. I never thought about that. It’s true that Jaxon was still very young at that time, but I still want to believe that he’s right.

“Besides, you shouldn’t believe everything Jaxon said that’s related to the accident.” Kellan finally turns around to face me, and I see sadness in his expression.

“Why?” I ask.

“Because he wasn’t completely fine either,” Kellan says. “Even though Jaxon wasn’t in the car, he was also damaged mentally. He had to see a doctor. A psychiatric.”

A small gasp leaves my mouth.

Kellan nods. “Yes, he was young, and he was blaming himself for the accident. Imagine having his family coming to see his first karate championship, only to have them dead.”

I feel a lump in my throat. The pain Jaxon felt at that time must have been unbearable.

Kellan looks crushed after saying those words, so I rush to him and wrap my arms around him.

“Jaxon was mentally unstable at that time, so of course, I believed Fenrir,” Kellan says. “It was likely that Jaxon said those words to make himself feel better. If I didn’t have to be blind forever, it would definitely lift some weights on his shoulders.”

I tighten my hold on Kellan. He sighs, hugging me back.

None of us knows the possibility of such a miracle to happen.

Even though I can’t change Kellan’s mind now, I don’t want that hope to die yet .

Maybe someday in the future, we can talk about this again.