Enough people wanted either a sequel or an epilogue that I decided to write one. I did love the old ending, but like some of you, I felt that there was a potential for a bit more. And I love my new ending. Huge smile on my face as I write this.

Let me know what you think.

x-x

John stood on the small balcony, eyes closed, just enjoying the feel of the sun on his skin, the salt spray hitting his cheeks. The light bleeding through his eyelids filled his world with red, and he turned his face to the sky.

It had been a few weeks since Carson had started him on the treatment. In that time he really hadn't noticed much, if any, difference. Every once in a while there would be something - an area in the upper right corner of his vision sometimes seemed to separate out, but he'd figured that any change he was noticing was more attributable to his own hope than anything medical. The changes he'd noticed seemed illusory: there one moment, gone the next.

That is, until today.

He opened eyes and smiled. And he could see - God, he could see! some of the detail in the spire soaring above him. He let his eyes trace the spire to where it pierced the blue sky expanding above him.

Heart in his throat, hands shaking, he clenched the rail of the balcony and looked down into the water meters below.

He heard someone behind him, but he couldn't stop staring down at the ocean. He could see the movement of the waves. The detail wasn't completely clear - the tears in his eyes were making it hard for him to see, but God, he could see it, the swell and flow as the water stirred below him.

Someone stood beside him at the rail. "Beautiful day," Elizabeth said, her voice going out over the ocean, almost lost in the breeze.

John didn't answer. He couldn't. He was...he was stunned. Frozen. In awe of what he was seeing, what was happening to him.

After a moment, Elizabeth shifted and turned to look at him. "Are you all right?" When he didn't answer, she said, "John?" her tone showing her concern.

Still looking at the sea, he wiped his eyes with the back of his hand. "Yeah. I'm good."

He felt a gentle hand on his arm. "You sure?"

Now he turned to look at her. With a trembling hand, he touched her shoulder, fingering the deep red of her shirt. Letting his hand drop, he looked directly into her eyes. After a moment, he saw realization there. "Yeah, I'm great," he said with a huge smile. Raising an eyebrow, he added, "Nice color on you."

Then he laughed in joy, eyes to the sky, his darkness gone.

x-x