softly. Samantha almost stepped forward to stop him, but the priest shook
his head.
“Close your eyes, dear,” the puppet said.
Karissa closed her eyes. The puppet hummed again, leaning in. He stopped
and gently kissed her forehead.
“Open your eyes, child.”
Karissa opened them. Her pupils were now their original brown color. The
brightness startled her at first, and she flinched. But as her vision
adjusted, she saw the puppet and screamed.
The puppet looked startled too.
“Sorry. Didn’t know what you were expecting,” he said.
Samantha dropped to her knees and hugged her daughter. Tears ran down her
cheeks.
“Thank you. Thank you,” she said, then stood and hugged Luke. “This was a
miracle. I owe you so much.”
“Thank you,” Luke said.
“It was nothing,” the puppet added. “Your daughter did all the hard work.
She would’ve gotten full vision back eventually. I just sped things up.”
Karissa’s shock faded. She laughed at the puppet’s accent.
“Thank you,” the priest said. “We were overdue for a miracle. I’m glad you
came today.”
“We are too, Father,” the puppet said. “This place is the only one in town
that doesn’t feel corrupted. It was nice to feel normal again.”
“You are welcome here anytime,” Father Mason said.
“Again, thank you so much,” Samantha said. “I don’t have much, but maybe I