Linnaeus the Living Statue Part Three (special preview)

Annemieke shakes her head as she exhales loudly. “I can’t believe I did that,” she grumbles. “I was getting so frustrated, but I-” She stops again. “I’ll have to start over.”

I thought she meant the painting, but I also felt like there was something deeper there. It was as if she was afraid that, with these vision issues, she was going to have to start from the bottom again with her artwork. 

A few weeks later, Annemieke had her doctor’s appointment. Robin referred her to his brother, Puck, who did a few tests and, for the meantime, gave Annemieke medicine that should help her with the headaches. 

“Any ideas what it could be?” Annemieke asks him. “I mean, even a hint?” She chuckles, trying to breathe some lightness into the situation.

“I don’t want to make any assumptions,” Puck replies. He has a serious, almost terrifying gaze with steel colored eyes. He felt like some immovable object made of rage, like when Duncan came across that one tennis ball he hated for some reason. “I don’t want to worry you too much, nor do I want to make light of anything and get your hopes up. Like with most illness, this is something that should be treated seriously, no matter what it could be.” He sets his charts aside and takes off his gloves. “Eyes are not my specialty, but I know what I’m doing. I’m a fan of your work as well, I would hate to lose it, but even still, I’m not going to sugarcoat things, Ms. Annemieke.”

“Missus,” she corrects him quickly. “We’re married.”

Puck glances to me then smiles. “Yes, I’m sorry.” He sits back down in front of Annemieke. “I suggest, for the time, you take things easy. Don’t do things that could strain your eyes. No TV, audiobooks at best, large print at worst. Take time for yourself, maybe even take a trip and spend time together.”

I squeeze Annemieke’s shoulders. “Dr. Puck, just tell us. Do you think it’s bad?”