The Husband Removed Our Son's Cornea By Himself

For an entire week, Adrian didn’t respond to a single one of my hundred messages. My heart pounded with worry—I feared something terrible might have happened to him abroad. I reached out to his friends, but none of them knew where he was either.

Three days later, just as I was preparing to fly overseas to look for him, he returned. He was a shadow of himself, looking gaunt and haunted. I wanted to ask him about the photograph, but his face was blank and hollow. He locked himself in his study, downing glass after glass of liquor.

I called his name from outside the door, my voice soft yet persistent. Suddenly, he cried out, “Lorie, where are you? Please come back! Don’t leave me, Lorie. I miss you.”

I kept responding from the other side of the door, hoping to reach him. Eventually, he passed out. I let myself in with a spare key, only to find him clutching that faded photo tightly in his hand. I placed a blanket over him and quietly slipped out, leaving him to his dreams.

Later that night, I searched for information about Adrian’s classmates from his college era but found no clues. Trying to shake off my suspicions, I convinced myself it was just post-wedding jitters, too afraid to confront the possibility that Adrian might not love me as I thought.

The next morning, Adrian was up early, cleaning up his study and preparing breakfast for me. Gently, he woke me with a kiss on my eyes. Wrapped in his warmth and affection, my unease melted away and I decided not to press him about the woman in the photo. After that, Adrian’s love for me seemed to grow deeper—or rather, his love for my eyes.

***

Adrian’s fascination with my eyes gradually morphed into an obsession. He took endless close-up photos, crafted countless sketches and portraits and even molded wax sculptures that captured their essence. In an almost surreal display of devotion, he went as far as to purchase an extensive insurance policy specifically for my eyes.

Every morning, his first task was to apply a specialized eye cream for me, a ritual that felt both tender and intimate. In the evenings, he would concoct soups and herbal broths, each recipe meticulously focused on maintaining my eye health. At the time, I didn’t find anything strange about his behavior; I saw it as his unique way of expressing love.

Two weeks after our wedding, while the sun set behind the hills, casting a warm glow in our cozy living room, Adrian took my hands in his. His eyes sparkled with a mixture of excitement and hope as he said, “Lorie, let’s have a baby. I’d love a daughter—a little girl who would stare at me, sulking with eyes just like yours.”

I felt my cheeks flush at the thought, my heart swelling with joy at the idea of having a child with Adrian. “Yes, I would love that,” I replied, my voice barely above a whisper, thrilled at the prospect of our future family.

During our time trying to conceive, Adrian suggested we begin a special tradition together, a personal ritual meant to strengthen our bond. One magical evening, he led me to a secluded spot in the countryside, where the stars sparkled like diamonds against the dark velvet sky. Standing hand in hand, he spoke with a sincerity that made my heart flutter.

Adrian placed a delicate silk ribbon in my hands and wrapped another around his own, binding them loosely. “Close your eyes,” he whispered, his voice gentle yet firm. “Let’s make a wish for our future together, for the child we’ll have—a daughter with your beautiful eyes.”

Together, we whispered our hopes and dreams into the night, letting the stillness around us carry our wishes into the universe. When we finished, Adrian carefully tied the two ribbons to the branches of a nearby tree, creating a tangible symbol of our shared desires.

Afterward, he surprised me by taking me to see a renowned oracle known for her insights. To my amazement, she declared that my husband’s wish would indeed come true. Adrian was ecstatic, his joy infectious. On the way home, he showered me with kisses, calling me sweet names and praising the beauty of my eyes with every breath.

Throughout my pregnancy, Adrian was my unwavering support. No matter how packed his schedule was, he prioritized taking me to every check-up, always holding my hand tightly during those moments of anticipation. At our four-dimensional ultrasound, his eyes lit up as he pointed excitedly to the screen. “Lorie, look! Our baby will have your eyes—they’ll be so beautiful, just like yours.”

The doctor, observing our joy, chuckled, “I’ve never seen you this excited, Dr. Hardy. You’re going to make a wonderful father.”

After the scan, Adrian lingered in conversation with the doctor, his excitement palpable. When he finally returned to my side, he enveloped me in a tight embrace, his voice trembling with exhilaration. “Lorie, it’s a girl! We’re going to have a daughter. My wish is coming true!”

During the labor, Adrian waited outside, anxious but hopeful, as they only allowed him to come in after I had delivered. Exhausted from the lengthy process, I longed for a warm welcome and a tender kiss when I heard the door finally open.