Part 1After She Took My Eyes, I Sent Her and Her Childhood Sweetheart to Jail

Brad Brown, my wife Seraphina's childhood friend, and I were on our way to a shooting competition when we got into a car accident.

I woke up with my eyes bandaged. My wife, Dr. Seraphina Thorne, who was my attending physician, told me that my left eye was severely damaged and I was permanently blind.

Meanwhile, Brad had won the gold medal in the shooting competition. At the celebration banquet, he slurred drunkenly: "If Seraphina hadn't transplanted William Hayes's cornea to me, I would have gone blind, and I would never have stood on that podium."

Seraphina hugged him tightly: "William lost one eye; I can make it up to him for the rest of my life. I just want you to be well, standing in the spotlight, where everyone can see you."

That's when I realized my blindness wasn't an act of fate; it was a human doing.

* * *

My left eye still throbbed faintly, the wound not yet healed. The conversation in the room continued. Brad raised his glass to Seraphina: "I've known since I was a child that I was an orphan. Seraphina and I grew up together; she's always been so caring, giving me the very best of everything."

"I never imagined that at a crucial point in the competition, when my eye was injured, she would be so generous as to transplant William Hayes's cornea to me."

"Seraphina, without you, my life would have no future."

Seraphina, with tears in her eyes, drank the wine in Brad's glass and said, "Silly, who else would I help if not you?"

"I was William's attending physician. I assessed the situation at the time. If your eye hadn't received a cornea transplant then, you wouldn't have been able to compete."

"You trained so hard; how could I let your future be ruined?"

The relatives inside all exclaimed, "You two really have such a strong bond; Seraphina is incredible to Brad."

"Exactly. But William was also on his way to a competition, wasn't he? I can't believe he'd be willing to donate his cornea to Brad."

"He literally gave Brad his future."

Seraphina said disdainfully, "William's performance is far inferior to Brad's. It's better to fulfill Brad's potential. See? It proves my choice was right at the time."

Outside the door, I clenched my fists, my heart feeling empty and cold, like the dead of winter.

I remembered the pre-competition training camp. Brad, who had just gotten his driver's license, insisted on driving. I disagreed.

Seraphina said, "Don't you trust Brad? I trust him; he can do anything perfectly. If you're afraid to die, take a cab yourself. Brad, let's go."

My wife pulled Brad into the car. I had no choice but to follow and get in. To show off in front of Seraphina, Brad sped and drifted occasionally. Finally, at a bend, he collided with a container truck. I was knocked unconscious.

When I woke up, it was several days later. Seraphina, in a white lab coat, sat by my bedside. My left eye was heavily bandaged.

Before I could speak, Seraphina said tenderly, "Honey, don't rush. We were in a car accident. Both you and Brad were injured. Your left eye… you're blind."

Seraphina hugged me, comforting me: "Honey, don't be scared. No matter what you become, I'll always be by your side."

At that time, although I was despondent because of my blindness, I was also comforted to have such a wonderful wife. I never imagined my blindness wasn't caused by the car accident but by human intervention.

My father-in-law's voice in the room was booming: "William is so foolish and clumsy. His shooting scores are nowhere near Brad's talent. I never approved when he pursued Seraphina. If Brad hadn't been abroad back then, I would have preferred to marry my daughter to Brad."

Seraphina said shyly, "Dad, stop it."

Brad interjected, "Uncle, if you're willing to give me a chance, I'll treat Seraphina well. Now I have the ability to make her happy. William has lost an eye; how can he take care of Seraphina?"

Seraphina cooed, "What are you saying? William and I aren't divorced yet."