It was a month since the trial, I was staying with Matthew for a while until the date for my possible one of many eye surgeries to roll around. I was honestly ready to receive my sight but, knew it would be a huge milestone in my life. “Spirit? Breakfast is ready.”
Came the voice of Dalilah Clement. Matthew had left early to go to work, leaving me and Dal to have a girl’s day together. I stood from my bed, grabbing my walking stick, I leave the bedroom and follow the smell of eggs, bacon, pancakes, and hash browns.

When I reached the kitchen, I sat down at the table. The food smelled good as Dal cooked and served a plate for her and I. My ears picked up the sound of Dalilah placing down two plates and taking a seat herself. I began to eat as Dalilah began to soon after,
“Spirit,” Dalilah started to say, “After we finish our breakfast, we are going to check in for your eye surgery.” I nearly choked on my eggs and hash browns, “So soon? I thought Matt was told it would not be for another month or two.” I replied, “That may be true but,
I got a call from the eye doctor last night saying that if we wait any longer, there might not be anything that can be saved to regain your sight. Any time we waste waiting, may cost you something you have been robbed of.” She explained.
“I understand, Dal.” I stated, finishing my meal.

After Dalilah put our plates in the sink, we went to her minivan. I got into the passenger side or ‘shotgun’ as people call it sometimes. As Dalilah was getting ready to pull out, her phone went off; “Oh for the love of. . . who could it be?” she questioned, fishing out her phone. “Dalilah Jade Clement, who is this?” she soon asked upon answering, “Oh, Matthew, dear. Sorry for that, I guess
I didn’t see your caller ID.” She spoke to Matthew for a few minutes before Dal said to me, “Spirit, child, Matt wants to talk to you.” I nod as I took the phone in my awaiting hand. “Hey there kiddo,” Came Matt on the other line. “Hello Matthew,” I reply. “Listen, I know I promised to be there for you when you go under but, we are dealing with a high speed chase and I have to go soon. Dal will be with you though, so you’ll be in good hands. I swear on my life I will be there when you wake up, Dalilah and I will be the first people you will see when you open your eyes.” Matthew said, in a stern promise like voice. I smile, “Thanks Matthew. I can’t wait to see instead of hear you, Dalilah and the others that have helped me so far.”

~

“Here we are Spirit.” Came Dal’s voice after an hour’s drive. I had slept on the drive down here so, I took a well deserved cat nap. I stretched out, my bones popping and creaking
as I unbuckled my seat belt, hopping out of the car. I hold onto the side, waiting for Dalilah with my walking stick. My hand soon felt the rubber handle of the cane, I hook an arm through Delilah's as we walked forwards. We would have to wait till 2 A.M. before we can do the surgery, so that when I go under, my breakfast won’t come up like Matt’s
lunch that day he found me; yes he has told me the tale.

2 A.M. came around quicker than I could think, I was taken to a changing room and helped taking off my clothes and putting on a hospital gown. During this however, I felt a tightness in my chest that felt like I could not breathe right or at all. I knocked it off as
anxiety or something else but, once I was placed on the operating table and they got everything ready for when I went under; everything went to hell once they hovered the knockout gas above me. I had grabbed the doctor’s wrist with both hands as my
breathing picked up, being blind did not mean I could still have a slight panic attack.
“Kid,” one of the doctor’s told me, “We are just trying to help you regain your sight, please, just relax.” The thing was that I could not relax. I was so afraid that this all was a dream, and when I woke, I would be in that basement, my parents at work and still the slim and weak girl they kept hidden from the world. I did not want to voice my fears
because I thought I would be seen as weak, I already was without my sight.
I asked for Dalilah and they allowed her to enter, only for a few minutes however. I had hugged her like a lifeline when she entered, “I don’t want to go under, Dal. I do not want to think that this was all a dream.” “Everything will be okay Spirit, Matthew and I will be with you until you wake up, I promise.” Dalilah told me, rubbing circles on my upper back, between my shoulder blades. She gently laid me back down on the table, held my hand and softly stroked my hair. They placed the mask over my mouth and I took a deep breath, my body relaxed and breathing slowed; almost like I was going to sleep.

I could vaguely feel them remove my wrappings and open my eyes, putting something to hold them open. “I’ll . . . you . . . hours.” I couldn’t make out what Dalilah was saying and was
not able to dwell on it either as I fell into a drug induced rest.

I would soon come too, being told I was in surgery for over 10 hours and that Matthew Brookes Clement was in the E.R. from a car crash from the high speed chase with his legs and rib cage broken.

And the first person to tell me this would be Dalilah;

The first person I would be able to see.