Chapter Twenty-Eight
Grace
I was waking up. I felt the feeling begin to return to my body and I was no longer weightless. I felt gravity again- and then I felt relief. I had made it through the surgery.
Was it night time? I couldn't see any light.
A deep feeling of dread seeped into my bones as a horrible sense of dejavu crept up on me. The last time I had woken up in the hospital and not been able to see anything, I was told my family was dead and that I was blind.
I moved my hands, beginning to feel frantic. I felt a warm hand press against my own.
"Grace, honey you're awake!" I recognized the voice as Luisana.
"Why can't I see anything?" I all but screeched in a scratchy voice. I was so damn thirsty.
"Calm down, sweetie. The doctors said the surgery was a success, they did everything they could. You have a thick bandage on your eyes right now to let them heal. You should be able to take it off tomorrow."
I let the information she had just told me seep in.
"How will I know if the surgery worked then?" I panicked.
"We won't know until they remove your bandages." Michael said from beside me.
I was disappointed. I could be able to see again and I wouldn't know.
"Well this sucks." I muttered sadly.
Luisana and Michael laughed. "I have a feeling that it will be worth the wait."
I pouted, eating the Jell-O the nurse brought me. "Just think of it like this- it's just one more day to go before you could have your sight back! Just think of it being Christmas Eve." Michael joked.
I laughed. I'd been through much worse than this.
Dr. Martin came to check on me briefly and said that I should try to keep my eyes closed as much as I could to allow the lenses to heal. He was optimistic about the outcome.
That night, I had finally fallen asleep after much difficulty. When I woke up this time, I knew that today was the day. I had hope in my heart and was ready to face the outcome- whatever it was.
I was restless and it took everything in me to not try to peel the bandages off. I pressed the bell that called the nurse and she came in a moment later.
"Is Dr. Martin here yet? I want to take the bandages off!" I said impatiently.
She laughed, "I'll go see if he's here yet. I think I passed him in the hallway."
I nodded eagerly as she left. A moment later I heard people come in.
"Good morning sweetie! We were just finding the doctor for you." Luisana said. "Morning kid." Michael said with affection.
"Good morning," I smiled. "Is Dr. Martin here?"
"I am indeed!" I heard him walk through the door.
"Can I take the bandages off?" I begged him.
"That's what we're all here for!" He said, "But I think someone else wants to be here when it happens as well."
Jaxon? Harper?
"Who?" I asked hesitantly.
"I'm here!" Cried an enthusiastic, familiar voice.
"Hattie!" I cried, "You're here!" I automatically raised my arms for a hug and felt her wrap hers around me comfortingly.
"Of course I'm here! Luisana told me you were having your surgery and I had to be here when you woke up of course."
I smiled. "Can we take them off now, Dr. Martin?"
Instead of an answer, I felt fingers touching the tape on my cheek bones. They began to peel it off my face and I closed my eyes, afraid of the disappointment I might face. If the surgery didn't work, I wasn't sure how I would ever be able to get over it.
I felt the last piece of fabric leave my face.
"Grace honey, you can open your eyes." Hattie said soothingly.
I felt hands grasp my own. I knew that no matter what happened, I wouldn't be alone. I could face my fears.
I slowly opened my eyes and saw the most beautiful sight I had seen in what seemed like ages.
I saw the smiling faces of the people that loved me. I felt wetness running down my cheeks and before I knew I was crying, Luisana wiped them away.
My eyes were healed- I wasn't blind anymore. I saw things as clearly as I had before; it was as if it never happened.
But it did. A dark voice in my head reminded me.
They were staring at me anxiously. "Well?" Luisana asked me.
I studied her face, unable to form words. She had beautiful blonde hair and had a flawless face.
I saw Hattie, as perfect as I had imagined her and recognized Michael immediately.
"You're all so beautiful." I sobbed, turning to Dr. Martin.
"Thank you so much, I don't know how I'll ever thank you."
He smiled warmly at me, his eyes glassy. "Seeing you now is the only thank you I need. This is why I love my job."
I closed my eyes and wiped the tears from my face. I could see.
It had been hours since I had opened my eyes and been discharged from the hospital. I had asked Luisana and Michael to take me to explore Los Angeles. They had gladly obliged, it had been exactly what I needed- an escape from the bindings that had been holding me since the accident.
We paraded down Hollywood Boulevard and I excitedly looked at all the stars on the sidewalk.
"Oh, it's Betty White!" I called to Luisana. She laughed and came to stand beside me.
"She's a wonderful lady. I went to her ninetieth birthday party and let me tell you, she still parties hard. She has quite a soft spot for Michael." She laughed and her eyes crinkled with happiness.
"She's my favorite person in Hollywood, I think." I said seriously.
I heard a laugh behind me and turned to see Michael juggling three ice cream cones.
"She's Hollywood's mother. She's everyone's favorite."
I nodded in agreement. "Thanks for the ice-cream." I smiled.
I wandered over to a small magazine stand that was set up on the side of the road. I leafed through some pages until I came to a picture that shocked me.
"I- is that me?" I gasped out, my eyes bulging as I read the title.
My eyes skimmed the page over and over. There was a large picture of me walking out of the hospital doors arm in arm with Michael and Luisana.
In big bold letters it said, "Bublé the new Brad and Angelina?"
Michael came to stand beside me. "You shouldn't read those, Grace. They can be pretty nasty. I'm sorry that by us adopting you it brings you into the spotlight."
I turned to face him and took in his face. It was crazy to think that before the accident I had known exactly who Michael Bublé was, even a fan of his music and now here I was as his adoptive daughter.
"You will never know how thankful I am to be a part of your family." I said with a smile.
He hugged me and laughed, "Well squirt, do you want to get something to eat? Luisana just went to the washroom."
I nodded, feeling relaxed despite the shock I had made it into the very magazine that Parker adored.
I wonder what she's thinking right now. I wondered.
Shrugging off her lack of friendship, we met back up with Luisana and headed towards the restaurant that had a special VIP room for celebrities to relax and eat in peace. It was getting darker outside and my stomach was rumbling.
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