[ WP ] A gifted eye surgeon is contacted by a 6 year old former patient . After 6 months , he wishes to be blind again .

*Clack, clack, clack. * Dennis could hear Nancy's heels on the tile floor as she approached his office. Just have to finish this last email, he thought. A soft knock and the door opened. 
 
 `` Dr. Lahey, Scott Griffin is in examination room five with his mother,'' called Nancy, peeking her head in the room. 
 
 `` Okay, I'll be there in three minutes.'' Dennis replied as he quickly glanced up from his computer. 
 
 `` Remember, three minutes times ten patients means we all go home a half hour later,'' chided Nancy. 
 
 `` And if I get this NIH grant we can all get a pay raise,'' retorted Dennis. 
 
 Dennis turned back to his computer and tried to finish his email, but he had lost his train of thought. I guess I can be on time for this kid, he thought, as he sighed and rose from his chair, saving a draft to his outbox. 
 
 Dennis strode down the hall to room five, gave a courtesy tap on the door, and entered. 
 
 `` Hello doctor, good to see you again,'' said Mrs. Griffin, standing to shake his hand. 
 
 `` Likewise,'' said Dennis, taking Laura's outstretched hand, `` How is the big man doing?'' 
 
 `` Well he seems fine, but for the past month or so he's been insisting that he needs to see you.'' 
 
 `` Oh yeah? And why is that?'' said Dennis, squatting down to Scott's level and trying to make eye contact. 
 
 `` He wo n't say,'' replied Laura. `` Eventually I had to capitulate, he said it was very important and he could only talk to you about it. He said it has to do with his eyes.'' 
 
 `` Well, okay. What's the problem, Scott?'' asked Dennis, still trying to connect with Scott's downcast gaze. 
 
 `` I have to tell *only* you, doctor. My mom ca n't be here,'' mumbled Scott. 
 
 Dennis rose to standing height and turned to Laura. 
 
 `` Do you mind? It might make things easier on all of us.'' 
 
 `` Not at all, doctor. Scott, I'll be in the waiting room, okay?'' said Laura as she walked out of the room. Dennis turned to Scott. 
 
 `` So what's the problem, buddy?'' 
 
 `` Well, I do n't wan na see anymore. I wan na be blind again,'' said Scott, looking up at Dennis. 
 
 Dennis snapped into attention as all of his pre-planned platitudes instantly dissolved. 
 
 `` Uh, I-I'm sorry, what? Say that again?'' stammered Dennis. 
 
 `` I do n't want to see anymore. It was better when it was dark. I liked it more.'' said Scott. 
 
 `` What do you mean? That does n't make any sense, Scott. Why would n't you want to see?'' asked Dennis, incredulously. 
 
 `` I do n't *like* it. That's all,'' shot back Scott. 
 
 `` What do n't you like about it?'' 
 
 `` I just do n't and I do n't want to see and I need you to make it the way it was again.'' 
 
 Dennis sat down in the examination room chair, both energized and puzzled by this bizarre turn of events. Never in his twenty years of medical practice had he ever encountered such a strange request. Dennis gathered his thoughts. He would work through this in a professional way. 
 
 `` So let me get this straight: you want to be blind again, is that correct?'' inquired Dennis in a level tone. 
 
 `` Yes.'' 
 
 `` Well, Scott, that's a very strange request, and I need to know why you do n't like seeing. Lots of people who come here want to see more than anything else in the world. They're so happy if they get their vision back. Why do you want yours to go away?'' 
 
 `` I dunno I just hate it. I do n't like seeing things.'' 
 
 *Things, * thought Dennis. There was something more there. 
 
 `` What kind of things, Scott?'' 
 
 `` I dunno.'' 
 
 `` Bad things?'' 
 
 Scott sat in silence. Yes, it must be bad things, thought Dennis. 
 
 `` Scott,'' said Dennis, his tone softening, `` is everything okay at home?'' 
 
 `` I dunno,'' said Scott. 
 
 `` Do you see bad things at home?'' 
 
 Scott paused and shrugged. 
 
 `` Is someone hurting you at home, Scott?'' 
 
 `` No, nobody's hurting me.'' 
 
 Dennis looked at the floor as he turned the problem around in his head. 
 
 `` Do you see people getting hurt at home?'' 
 
 Scott starting fidgeting, kicking the air with his dangling feet. His eyes remained glued to the floor. 
 
 `` Yeah.'' 
 
 `` Is it your parents, Scott?'' 
 
 `` Yeah.'' 
 
 `` Is your Dad hurting your Mom?'' 
 
 `` Yeah. And my Mom hurts my Dad.'' 
 
 For the first time in his tenure as a ophthalmologist, Dennis was unsure as to how he should proceed. 
 
 `` I'm, I'm sorry to hear that Scott.'' 
 
 `` Thanks.'' 
 
 Dennis found his own eyes aimed at the floor. 
 
 `` Do you mind if I go speak to my nurse?'' 
 
 `` Okay.'' 
 
 Dennis stood up and walked out of the examination room, closing the door behind him. 
 
 `` Nancy, do you have a second?'' asked Dennis as he popped his head into the reception area. 
 
 `` Sure,'' she replied. 
 
 Dennis motioned her into the adjacent examination room and turned to Nancy with arms folded. 
 
 `` I think we have a problem that's outside of my scope of expertise. Little six-year-old Scott Griffin just asked me to take away his vision because he hates seeing his parents fight.'' 
 
 Nancy gasped and put her hand to her mouth. 
 
 `` What do we do?'' asked Dennis. 
 
 Nancy turned away in thought. 
 
 `` Should we call protective services?'' 
 
 `` No, you need to talk to his mom,'' she replied, looking back up at Dennis. 
 
 `` What am *I* supposed to say to her? I'm a surgeon, not a family therapist.'' 
 
 `` This boy's health is at risk and at the end of the day you're a doctor. It's the right thing to do.'' 
 
 Scott sighed and walked back to the reception area. 
 
 `` Mrs. Griffin, could you join me for a minute?'' 
 
 `` Sure, is everything okay?'' 
 
 `` It's not what you think, but we do need to discuss something. Let's go in here,'' said Dennis, motioning her into another examination room. 
 
 `` Mrs. Griffin, your son's eyes are fine. The issue he's having is n't with his eyes, it's what he's seeing.'' 
 
 `` What do you mean?'' 
 
 `` Are things difficult at home right now, Mrs. Griffin?'' 
 
 `` Well I do n't see how that's any of your bus-'' 
 
 `` Your son just asked me to blind him so he could n't see you and your husband fight.'' 
 
 Laura folded her arms and gazed at the floor. 
 
 `` Mrs. Griffin? Laura?'' 
 
 Her eyes welled up and Laura began to sob. 
 
 `` I'm such a fuck up, god fucking dammit.'' 
 
 `` Laura -'' 
 
 `` We said we'd stay together for Scott. But what the hell kind of life is it if my own son hates it?'' 
 
 Dennis listened silently. 
 
 `` Well,'' sobbed Laura, `` I think it's time for a divorce. When your son would rather endure mutilation... fuck, my parents will be so pissed.'' 
 
 `` Laura,'' said Dennis, `` I do n't know your situation, but something needs to be done. I do n't think Scott can endure the status quo much longer. You also need to take him to a child psychologist.'' 
 
 `` Okay. Yeah, you're right. Well, jeez, did n't see this coming today.'' 
 
 `` I think you need to have a talk with your son, Laura.'' 
 
 `` I think you're right.'' 
 
 Dennis motioned Laura out of the room, and they walked together into examination room five.
