No more adults deciding what happened to other people's bodies.
No more hidden promises.
I looked at the notebook.
Then whispered:
"That's how it should have been twenty years ago."
Dad nodded.
"Yes."
***
A week later, Dr. Harris called with unexpected news.
A former Lumen patient had agreed to undergo an independent assessment to determine whether the new treatment might be appropriate.
It was June Bell.
I nearly dropped the phone.
"June?"
"She's interested in learning more," Harris explained. "No treatment decision has been made. Her condition is different from yours, so the outcome may not be comparable."
I felt tears gathering.
"But there's a possibility?"
"There's a possibility worth investigating carefully."
I closed my eyes.
For the first time, the research that had once harmed us was being examined under transparent oversight, with patients making informed choices.
I didn't know whether June would ever see more clearly.
I didn't know whether the procedure would help anyone else.
