Snow Lodge
Chapter 69
AJ's eyes flickered, showing a hint of white before closing again.
"That's it baby. Nearly there." Brian told him, feeling AJ's hand grip his even tighter.
"Come on Alex." Howie urged, watching as his eyes flickered again.
Then finally, slowly, AJ's eyes opened, revealing his beautiful brown eyes for the first time in what seemed like forever.
Brian felt the tears sliding down his cheeks, but he didn't care. AJ was awake.
"Baby." He whispered, watching as AJ's eyes opened and closed a few more times, trying to adjust to the light in the room.
Kevin frowned. AJ's eyes were glassy and unfocused, and he didn't seem to be able to settle on anything, his eyes looking but not seeing.
He watched as AJ blinked again, as if trying to block out the light. Kevin looked around and realised that the room must be incredibly bright for someone who had been asleep for as long as AJ had, and he quickly turned the lights down, making it less harsh on AJ's eyes.
"Aje?" Howie whispered, watching as his eyes tried to focus.
Slowly AJ moved, turning his gaze over to his concerned best friend, as he scrunched his eyes up as if to try and clear them.
Brian watched and felt his heart fall. AJ had done this before, when he couldn't see.
What if...
"Brian?" Nick questioned him, feeling his friend's agitation.
"No. I... He can't." Brian whispered. This couldn't be happening, he was supposed to be okay. He couldn't still be blind. He just couldn't.
"Can't what? Brian!" Nick called, panicking slightly as he felt Brian's despair.
Brian closed his eyes and shook his head. He couldn't think that. He had to be okay.
Hearing Brian's name, AJ turned back to the sound, looking in Brian and Nick's direction with glazed eyes.
Brian let go of AJ's hand and reached it out, raising it into AJ's line of vision.
AJ closed his eyes for a second, before slowly lifting his own shaky hand and grabbing Brian's, squeezing it gently.
He then looked up from their joined hands to Brian's face and smiled a little, pulling him down gently towards him.
He tried to speak, but the oxygen mask around his face made it difficult. Brian gently pulled it down so AJ could talk.
"I told you I would cut it off if you did that again." He rasped, his voice scratchy and barely audible.
