Chapter Two: The Weight Of Burden
959 Words
Evelyn lay motionless on the hospital bed, her fingers gripping her head as fresh tears streamed down her cheeks. The darkness that surrounded her was suffocating, pressing down on her like an unbearable weight.
Tears streamed down Evelyn’s face as she sat up in the hospital bed, her hands trembling as they gripped the thin blanket draped over her lap. She had been crying for what felt like hours, but the pain in her heart remained unbearable, refusing to fade. The reality of her blindness crushed her, suffocating her like an invisible weight pressing down on her chest.
"I still can't believe this…" Her voice cracked as she shook her head in despair.
“This is not happening,” she whispered, her voice hoarse. “I'm not blind.”
Richard, who had barely left her side since she woke up, reached for her hand. His grip was firm yet gentle, trying to offer her comfort, but it did nothing to soothe the storm raging inside her. “Evelyn, please... you have to stop crying. The doctor said stress isn’t good for you right now.”
But how could she not?
How was she supposed to accept this?
She shook her head violently. “How can I stop? How can I possibly stop when I can’t see anything?” Her voice cracked as fresh sobs wracked her body. “I—I can’t even see your face, Richard. I can’t see anything.”
Camiella, standing beside Richard, placed a comforting hand on Evelyn’s shoulder. “Eve, I know this is hard, but you’re going to be okay. You’ll learn everything you need to learn.”
"Learn?" Evelyn let out a bitter laugh. "Learn to be blind? Learn to depend on people for the rest of my life?" She shook her head violently. "I don’t want this. I don’t want to live like this!"
“I don’t want to learn how to live with this! I don’t want to be blind!” She clutched the sheets, her knuckles turning white. “How am I supposed to live like this? How am I supposed to do anything?”
Silence filled the room. Neither Richard nor Camiella had an answer to that.
Evelyn took in a shaky breath before speaking again, her voice barely above a whisper. “If there’s one thing I’ve always hated the most... it’s being a burden to others.” She swallowed hard, blinking rapidly even though it made no difference. “And now… now I can’t even do the smallest things on my own. I’ll have to depend on people just to do the smallest thing.”
Richard immediately shut her up. “Don’t say that.”
“But it’s the truth!” Evelyn cried. “I’ll need help to eat, to walk, to do everything! I’ll be nothing but a problem for you, Camiella, and everyone around me. I don’t want that.”
Camiella crouched beside the bed, taking Evelyn’s hand in hers. “You are not a problem, Eve.” Her voice was soft but firm. “And you will never be a burden to us or to anyone who loves you. We love you. We’ll be here for you no matter what.”
Evelyn sniffled, shaking her head. “You say that now, but what about later? What if you get tired of always having to help me? What if you start resenting me?”
Richard sighed and moved closer, his voice steady but filled with emotion. “That will never happen.” He cupped her face gently, wiping away her tears with his thumb. “Evelyn, listen to me. You are not a burden. Not to me. Not to Camiella. Not to anyone around you. Never think of yourself that way again.”
Camiella answered in agreement. “We’re your family, Eve. We’ll get through this together.”
Evelyn inhaled shakily. She wanted to believe them, she really did. But how could she, when all she could feel was helplessness?
Camiella squeezed her hand lightly. “Actually, I was thinking… Maybe I should move in with you and Richard for a while.”
Evelyn froze. “What?”
Camiella continued, “If I stay with you, I can help you adjust to things better. You won’t have to go through this alone.”
Richard agreed. “That’s a good idea.” He turned to Evelyn. “What do you think?”
Evelyn hesitated. She didn’t want to be a burden, but at the same time, the thought of having her best friend close to support her was… comforting. She felt so lost, so afraid of what her life would be like from now on.
“I…” She swallowed hard. “Are you sure? I mean… won’t it be inconvenient for you, Camiella?”
Camiella smiled. “Not at all. I want to be there for you, Eve.” You're my best friend.
A fresh wave of tears filled Evelyn’s eyes. But this time, they weren’t just from despair. A small part of her felt grateful.
"Thank you," she whispered, her voice trembling. “Both of you. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
Camiella squeezed her hand again, and Richard ran his fingers through her hair gently.
“You’ll never have to find out. We’re in this together, Eve. Always.” Camiella said her voice filled with love.
“No need to thank us,” Richard said. “We’re family.”
As much as Evelyn still felt lost in the darkness, at least she knew she wasn’t completely alone.
More tears came, and Evelyn let them fall. She believed them. She trusted them that everything would be okay. But deep down, fear gnawed at her.
Would she ever feel whole again?
- Writer
