Her Ghost returns

“Some risks are worth taking, even when you know you might lose everything.”

Those were the words I repeated to myself as I sat stiffly on the examination table, gripping the edge so hard that my fingers ached.

“As I explained over the phone, Mrs. Ethan, this is a high-risk surgery. I can’t guarantee success.” Dr. Wells sighed as he steadied his voice.

“I want to try it,” I said with finality.

One year.

That’s how long it had been since I lost my sight. One year since I lost everything, my freedom, my dignity, my family’s love.

The tragic accident stole my sight, but the world stole its kindness. Serena, my sister, made sure of that. And, as always, I was the one blamed.

Now, I had a chance to take something back.

Dr. Wells hesitated. “I’ll need your husband’s consent before we proceed.”

I adjusted my dark shades, I was running out of patience.

“I don’t want anyone involved. You have my full consent. Just do it.”

I didn’t want Zack to know. Didn’t want his tired sighs or his forced sympathy. I was done being a burden.

Dr. Wells exhaled sharply. “Alright. The surgery begins in an hour.”

And just like that, I put my fate in the hands of a scalpel and a prayer.

---

A strange buzzing sound filled my ears as I stirred from unconsciousness. My face felt heavy.

“Mrs. Ethan, you’re awake.” Dr. Wells said. I could hear the excitement in his tone.

I froze. Had it worked?

“We’re removing the bandages now.”

I felt my heart pound in my chest as my hands turned cold from fear. This was my last chance, it had better work.

Dr. Wells peeled the bandages away slowly and agonizingly.

“Open your eyes.”

My fingers grabbed the hospital sheets as I obeyed. At first, I saw nothing but a blinding light, just like before.

Then, the blue faded.

Dr. Wells.. I saw him, I saw everything!

A sob broke from my throat as tears streamed down my face. “Oh my God… I can see.”

For the first time in a year, I wasn’t trapped. I wasn’t helpless.

Dr. Wells smiled. “Congratulations.”

I wiped my face, still overwhelmed with happiness.

“Zack is going to be so happy.”

And I actually believed it, until I walked through my front door.

The front door was unlocked. It was strange.

Still wearing my dark shades, I tapped my cane against the floor, pretending to still be blind. Zack wasn’t home yet, or so I thought.

As I walked inside, a sound stopped me in my tracks.

It was a breathy moan. It was too familiar.

I froze. My grip on the cane tightened. That voice… it was too familiar.

Serena…?

I told myself I was imagining it. That it was the TV, or maybe she had company over as usual.

“Focus on me, baby. We can attend to her after,” Zack said shamelessly amidst moans.

My stomach twisted into a knot.

I forced myself forward, as my cane trembled in my grasp. And then… I saw them.

Serena was naked, straddling Zack on the dining chair. His hands gripped her waist, guiding her.

My chest tightened and my heart burned at the sight of that.

My fingernails dug into my palm, I wanted to pounce on them, to scream, to tear them apart, but I couldn’t, at least, not yet.

“It must be so nice to live in the dark… never seeing things that could break your heart.” Serena mocked as she increased her pace on Zack.

Zack just giggled. He was smart enough not to speak, not to let me hear his voice.

How long has this been going on?

Swallowing my rage, I did the hardest thing I’d ever done. I walked away, still pretending.

I let my cane hit the walls, let them laugh at my misery. Let them believe I was still the blind fool they had grown comfortable deceiving.

Reaching my room, I collapsed onto the bed and buried myself in the sheets. And for the first time since regaining my sight, I wished I hadn’t.

I knew Zack was tired of me, tired of tending to a blind and helpless woman. But how could he betray me like this? Having an affair with my own sister?

She was the devil’s incarnate, no doubt, she would do anything just to hurt me, but Zack?

A while later, Zack entered the room. I adjusted myself and quickly wiped the tears that fell to my cheeks, as I forced myself to breathe evenly.

“I’m home, honey,” Zack said, pretending to just be coming home from work in his T-shirt and shorts.

I laughed bitterly inside me.

“Welcome, baby,” I said in the calmest and sweetest tone I could muster.

He leaned down and kissed my forehead. I could smell Serena all over him, I almost puked.

“I want to talk to you about something,” Zack said, sitting beside me.

“It’s about the company. I’ve decided to make a few changes.”

I felt my heart skip a beat. Changes?

“Since you can’t work anymore due to your condition, I was thinking… Serena should take over your position as co-CEO.” He said and paused for a moment.

My heart stopped.

“You are sisters,” he continued.

“And she has the same connections as you, maybe more, since she works in your dad’s company. So, I’ll need you to sign some documents,”

And just like that, Zack didn’t just betray me.

He erased me.