He Missed His Son’s Eye Surgery For Her Follow-Up Visit Chapter 06

He Missed His Son’s Eye Surgery For Her Follow-Up Visit Chapter 06

In the observation room, Eli lay on the bed.

Fresh gauze wrapped his right eye.

He clutched his recordable bear.

But he never pressed record anymore.

Because he couldn’t speak.

Gavin stood at the bedside, his hand hovering.

He tried to touch Eli.

I blocked him. “Don’t.”

Gavin’s hand froze. “Claire, I didn’t know it would be this bad.”

I looked at him. “You did. You read the pressure numbers.”

His face drained whiter.

The attending walked in with a chart. “Ms. Hastings, your son needs immediate transfer to a specialty rehab center. Vision therapy, psychological support, speech recovery—the sooner, the better.”

I signed the papers.

My hand didn’t shake at all.

Gavin’s voice cracked. “Will there really be permanent field loss?”

The attending looked at him. “Dr. Hastings, you’re an ophthalmologist. You can read these scans better than I can.”

That pinned him in place.

His mouth opened.

Nothing came out.

Vanessa was still in the hallway, suitcase in tow. “Gavin, my flight’s tomorrow morning…”

Gavin whipped around. “Get out.”

Vanessa blinked. “What?”

“I said get out.”

Tears spilled. “Gavin, I know you’re upset, but I didn’t do this on purpose. Eli has Claire, doesn’t he?”

Gavin’s face turned to ice. “Not another word.”

Vanessa shrank back from his look.

She shut her mouth.

I didn’t watch them.

I walked into Eli’s room, closed the door, and locked it.

Gavin pressed his face to the glass. “Eli. Daddy was wrong.”

Eli heard his voice and slowly turned his head.

He couldn’t see through the glass. But he fumbled for the bear and pressed play.

His old recording came out: “Bear, Daddy says I’m not really

sick. So next time it hurts, I won’t tell anyone.”

Gavin covered his mouth.

Tears slipped through his fingers.

I sat beside Eli’s bed and watched him.

He reached up and touched my face.

He couldn’t speak.

But I knew what he wanted to ask.

Is Mommy crying?

I took his hand and shook my head gently.

“Mommy’s not crying. Mommy’s taking you away.”

1:00 AM.

I processed the transfer.

The nurse hesitated. “Dr. Hastings, what about your husband…”

“He’s not her guardian anymore.”

I handed over the court’s temporary emergency order. “Starting now, he doesn’t have the right to sign any treatment papers for Eli.”

The nurse paused, then nodded.

2:00 AM.

I canceled my local number, withdrew Eli from preschool, and emptied the house of everything that belonged to us.

Every toy Gavin ever bought—I left it all behind.

Eli took only his bear.

3:00 AM.

I boarded the train to Westbrook with Eli in my arms.

Outside the window, the night stretched endless and black.

Eli leaned against me, his lashes fluttering.

He reached out and drew a star in my palm.

Then he wiped it away, hard.

I kissed his forehead.

*No more stars. Mommy’s taking you somewhere with sun.”