Fallon moves around me and goes to sit on the bed. “Even if you had remained blind, even if your vision doesn’t fully return, I would’ve stood happily by your side, Kao. That’s what it means to love someone unconditionally. I wanted to be the one to help and comfort you.” She takes a couple of deep breaths, and I can hear the ache in her voice as she continues, “You didn’t spare me from any heartache.”
“I was… God, I was stupid, Fallon. I was caught up in my anger. I wasn’t myself.” I don’t know how else to explain the dark place I was stuck in.
“I saw the revulsion on your face,” she whispers, her voice tight. “And I don’t blame you.” She lets out a painful burst of laughter. “God, right before the accident, we were joking about you being the beauty and me being the beast in our relationship.” Her voice hitches.
Darting forward, I sit down beside her and pull her into an embrace. “Don’t say that.”
Fallon yanks back. “But it’s the truth!” She gasps for air. “I look like a monster, Kao!”
Determined to show her the scars don’t matter, I frame her face with both my hands and lean into her. “You can never be a monster.” She tries to pull back again, but it has me snapping, “I don’t care about the scars, Fallon! I love you, not because of how fucking gorgeous you are, but because of how priceless you are. Your strength is unbelievable. You are compassionate, loyal, and you never back down from anything.” Wanting to show her that I mean every word, I close the distance between us and press my mouth to her quivering lips.
This is not how I wanted our first kiss to happen. I wanted to make the anticipation build. But that doesn’t matter anymore because as Fallon gasps, I tilt my head and move my lips against hers. She lifts her hands and takes hold of my forearms, and when she doesn’t push me away, I slip my tongue into her mouth.
Awareness of the incredible woman Fallon is, fills every inch of my heart. When my tongue brushes against hers, I can only hear my thundering heartbeat.
God, this woman is my everything.
My mouth caresses hers tenderly, my lips and tongue drinking in the intoxicating taste of her. I pour my love into the kiss, and before I lose control, I manage to pull back.
I wish I could see the color of her eyes right now.
“I don’t want to lose you, Fallon. I love you with every inch of my being,” I murmur, praying to all that’s holy she’ll give me a chance.
Her breaths rush over her lips, and she takes a couple of seconds to gather herself, then she whispers, “I need time.”
“Anything for you.”
“We…” She clears her throat, “We can be friends.”
God, no.
The ground rips open beneath me, but then Fallon continues, “Let’s first get comfortable being around each other again, and then we can talk about whether we can have a relationship.”
Too scared to hope, I ask, “So there’s still a chance for us to be together?”
Fallon pulls my hands away from her face, and it’s only then that it sinks in, I’ve been touching her scars without her freaking out. I stare at her face, and I’m able to make out the bumps and swells I felt. The cuts are haphazard over her cheek and neck, but it does nothing to dim her beauty.
“Let’s see what happens,” she murmurs.
At least it’s not a no.
“I can work with that,” I reply, a grin tugging at my lips.
Fallon lifts her hand to my face, and her fingers brush over the corner of my mouth. “I missed seeing you smile.”
My lips curve against her fingertips. “I missed seeing you.”
She drops her hand and asks, “What can you see?”
“Everything’s still blurry and black and white, but I can see details like faces, clothing, a cup.”
“So, no color?” Fallon asks.
“Not yet. Dr. Hodgson, my ophthalmologist, said it might take another two to three weeks before I can make out the finer details and see color. It differs from person to person.”
“So… uhm,” she wets her lips nervously. “How much of… the scars did you see?”
“Enough to know it’s not a minor injury,” I admit. When Fallon remains silent, I ask, “What did your doctor say? Can he help?”
Fallon nods. “My surgery is scheduled for the twenty-fourth. Dr. Menard said he’ll be able to reduce it significantly, but there might be white marks once it’s healed completely.”
“That’s good, right?” I ask, glad we’re finally talking. I’m taking it as a huge win.
“Yeah,” Fallon agrees. “But I still have to walk around like this for three weeks. I don’t want anyone to see it.”
I lift my hand to her right cheek, but this time, Fallon scoots back. “I don’t want you touching it, Kao. Please.”