Chapter 425: Chapter 425

Gabriela The enclave’s optometrist was a cyclops, which was a little surprising. Not only had I never met any of the famous one-eyed clan, I’d never heard of one going into any kind of medicine.

The most I’d known about them was that they were mountain folk who kept to themselves.

“You’re in good hands with Dr. Alonius,” said the receptionist, a petite Fae with a cheerful smile. “He’s been part of Brightsky almost since it began. Have a seat. He’ll be with you in just a few minutes.”

“I’ve been putting this off,” I said with an embarrassed smile. “I’m not sure why.”

As I took a seat in the comfortable waiting chair, I felt the urge to run out of the office rising in me again.

It had taken everything I had to make the appointment in the first place, and now that I was here, all I could think about was how horrible it would be if something bad happened to my eyes. No matter how I tried to tell myself it was foolishness, I couldn’t stop myself from imagining, over and over, that when the doctor put the lenses in front of my eyes to test my vision, the glass would break and shatter splinters into my eyeballs.

It was enough to make me run screaming from the waiting room. Only the pain in my head kept me in the chair. I knew something was going on with my vision, and I didn’t want to risk it being something important.

In the office, Dr. Alonius beamed a broad smile at me. His large eye, centered in the middle of his bald forehead, shone with good humor through the single bifocal lens. I felt much more at ease.

“Go ahead, ask me,” he said as he settled himself on a rolling stool. “Everyone wants to.”

‘I’m not sure…..”

“Why does a man with only one eye go into optometry?” Dr. Alonius laughed with a hearty guffaw.

“Well, the answer, my friend, is that when you only have one, you want to be extra sure you take good care of it. I decided I wanted to do the same for as many others as I could.”

“You’re making me feel a lot better,” I admitted. “Ive been having some weird anxiety about my eyes. I know an eye exam shouldn’t hurt, and yet…”

“No fear. I’ve got you.” Dr. Alonius scooted forward to begin the exam.

It wasn’t the first time I’d had my eyes examined. Wolves don’t tend to need glasses until we get much older, but a number of years ago I’d suddenly had a flare up of strange vision anomalies that felt very much like what had been going on lately. I told the doctor about them when he rolled his stool out of the way after he’d finished the exam.

“I can’t see anything going on, so I can set your mind at ease about problems with your eyes themselves. As for needing a prescription,you’ve got superb vision, Gabriela. No need for glasses. Not even readers.” The doctor tilted his head to study me. His expression was calm, but his brow furrowed in concern. “Have you seen the Brightsky medical staff about the headaches?”

A “Should I?”

“If you’re truly concerned, but…” He coughed lightly into his fist. “Look, it’s a bit out of line for me even to say anything, so feel free to put me in my place. But is it possible you’re having…anxiety attacks?”

My eyes went wide, and my eyebrows went up.

Way up. “Anything’s possible.”

“It’s just that I know you and your family have had some hardships to deal with. All of that tension could lead to headaches and changes in your vision. I do want to relieve you, though. I can see nothing to worry about with your eyes themselves.”

I was relieved, and let out a breath I’d been holding while I waited to hear the verdict on my vision. It stuttered out of me on a flurry of soft giggles that grew louder, until I had to clap a hand over my mouth to hold them back. After a moment, Dr. Alonius joined me. The two of us laughed hard for a minute more before we tapered into a comfortable silence.

“That was unexpected,” he said with another bright grin.

liked this man. He had a calming, easy demeanor and gentle way about him that was so different than Orion had ever been. I blushed, realizing I’d been staring.

“I’ll walk you out,” Dr. Alonius said as he stood and offered me his hand.

I took it. His was so much bigger that it fully engulfed mine. He squeezed mine gently before letting it go.

“Maybe I should get your number,” he said quietly as we stared at each other. “Just in case,I mean.

Um, if any of these readings turn out to be…um… of concern. I could call you.”

I couldn’t hold back my smile. “I’d like that.”

With a spring in my step, I headed back home.

For the first time in what felt like an entire lifetime, it felt like I might actually have a good future ahead of me. A home here in Brightsky.

Friends.

The possibility of something even more.

Happiness.