[ WP ] Your doctor has discovered cancer in both of your eyes . Tomorrow , you are having life-saving surgery to have them removed . Describe your final day with vision before you go blind .

You know, I never really realized it, but up until today, I had n't ever *seen* things. Not really. Although I looked out at the world through these now-dying eyes, I did n't take the time to *see* it. I never took the time to see *you*. 
 
 It sounds a bit clichéd, I suppose. But there's a truth to it. 
 
 I suppose I'm lucky, as far as these things go. In that it was spring when they discovered the disease in my eyes. 
 
 So I've been able to see the flowers in blossom, the birds -- have you ever taken the time to just *see* the different kinds of birds in spring? Now I know why birdwatching is a thing. 
 
 Today, the last day before my surgery, I was able to wake up and see my bedroom the last time. Able to see my house as I went down the stairs, able to see my cereal as I poured it. All for the last time. 
 
 I had the day off work -- heck, I had a while off work, until I could find a job that I could do without... Well, you know. 
 
 So I drove up to the state park and took one last walk out in the woods. The flowers, the trees, the birds, the squirrels. I watched a bunch of squirrels running around for two hours. I cried a little bit, then. Then I went down to the lake and just watched the water while I waited for your flight back in. I'm sorry you had to come back for this... I know you do n't think I should be, but I am. 
 
 I'm just glad you got back in time. Because now that I've seen you -- really *seen* you -- for the first time and for the last time, I can close my eyes and hold your face in my hands. And as I do that, I think to myself: *this will be enough*.
