James walks into the hospital the next morning. Bruises on his neck and scratches on random parts of his body. He walks into his grandfather's room.

"James?"
"Hey Pop-Pop."
"You look like a one night stand I had like forty years ago."

James feels his face heat up. There's so much to say, but he keeps his mouth shut.

"I'm only joking James. Who's the lucky gal?"
"It's a boy."
"I knew you wouldn't disappoint me like your father did."
"What?"
"What?"

There's a small silence. It isn't uncomfortable, but it's on the boarder.

"So, are ya going to read or not?"

James looks back at his grandfather. The book in his hands as he gestures James to take it out of his hands. James does and opens up to where they left off.

"Chapter 2:

'No,' I said facing the ground. The man's voice was soft yet manly. He sounded like a genuine man who didn't want to intrude. I heard his feet shuffle to take the seat.

'Dracul Lupeir!'

I stood up not taking note that it was a possibility to run into the man. Which if I'm being honest seemed low on the scale, but I bumped into him anyways.

'Watch where you're going,' he said.

That comment pissed me off. I was five seconds away from saying something, but I caught myself.

Mom helped me walk into the room I'd be in. Well, I thought it was a room.

'Now be good for the doctor.'
'Mom I'm not five.'

'Hey Dracul,' I heard a ladies voice. It was Sandra. I knew because of her southern accent.

'Hey, Sandy.'

My mother was quiet for a second. Then she leaned over and kissed my forehead.

'Oh, Mrs. Lupeir, the doctor has requested you to stay.'
'Okay...?'

I heard a pair of shoes leave the room."

James looks at Chris. His eyebrows knitting in confusion, "What language is this?

Chris looks away from the ceiling he was staring at. He seemed to be pulled back to earth with his grandson's comment. "Romanian, keep reading."

James takes a deep breath and starts again.

"'Es ea a lipsi,' I ask.
'Da.'

A new clicking noise came into the room. Dr. Andrew.

'Well Dracul, I have some news for you.'
'Good or bad? I'm not losing my hearing either am I?!'
'No,' he chuckled, 'it's good news.'

Relief washed over me.

'Okay, good. What is it?'
'Since you're one of four of our completely blind patients, and you've been of loss longer, I've been given news that there will be a trial going on that could get your eyesight back.'

'Bullshit,' I said.
'Dracul,' my mother gasped.

I felt anger wash over me. They'd said I'd get my vision back when I was eight, then at fourteen, again at sixteen, at twenty-five, and now again. I'm thirty-three almost thirty-four. All those times they'd said that I'd get it back was a lie. And this time I'm through.

'That hasn't happened yet. It's been thirty years without it and twenty-five years of being lied to! I've been to labs before an-'
'Dracul, I need you to calm down and listen fully...This trial is different. They're going to be using optogenetics. Now optogenetics is supposed to, as they're saying it, restore vision loss. I will have more info if you say you'll be one of the first fifteen people to be tested on. Do you want to try it?'

I sat there. It was new. But it would probably not work. You know she'd like you to try it. But we've done everything and none of it worked. At least try one more time. I sigh.

'When do you need an answer?'"

James looks at his grandfather wondering if he should continue. Chris looks at the ceiling. "You don't have to wait for my answer James. Just read."

"Chapter 3:

'Jax, let's go for a walk.'

I felt him brush against my right leg. I bent over and grabbed the leash that was in his mouth. Feeling around the collar, I find the hook and hook the leash on.

I opened the door. The cool Manhattan air hit me. Mom was surprised to read that it was only 74°F when we got in her car. I stepped out of the house and closed the door.

Not even three minutes into the walk, I realized I didn't have my glasses on.

'Jax,' I said, 'we have to...'

'Aren't you a cute little dog.'

The voice was male and very familiar.

'You have a cute dog,' the voice said.

I tried to look at the person, but I failed and looked at the ground. He should've said something else.

'Thanks.'
'You're wel...wait I know you.'
'Excuse me?'

That just got weird.

'We met this morning. I asked if the seat was open and then you ran into me."'

'Watch where you're going.'

'Oh yeah, you.'
'Why aren't you looking at me?'

I looked up and to the right of me.

'I think one of my contacts fell out.'
'Do you need help? Because I ca-'
'No, I need to go, nice seeing you again. Bye.'

Saying the word seeing burned. It was a lie but I needed to get out of there. I didn't need pity. Nobody needs pity."

James looks up to see the doctor, who has just walked in right as James finished the last word.

"James, your grandfather needs to have his medicine," the doctor says.

"Alright I'll be bac—"
"I'm afraid not James, today we're stepping up the dosage and we'll be keeping him under watch until tomorrow. I'm sorry."
"No, it's fine. Uh, Pop-Pop, I'll see ya tomorrow."

Chris gives a small wave and looks at the ceiling.