A young adult is given an eye cancer diagnosis by his doctor. He undergoes surgery to have his eyes removed, after which he is blind for three and a half weeks and recovers mostly alone in his room. His close friend Zara keeps him company from time to time. Throughout high school, she tutored him through chemistry and physics and had always exuded optimism about the possibilities of scientific innovation. Upon learning of his cancer diagnosis, she expressed frustration and anger that the world’s scientists still had no cure for it, but she was excited by the prospect of her friend getting bioengineered eyes.

About a month after the initial surgery, he goes in for his eye implant procedure. For a long time afterwards, he struggles to accept his physical change and no longer goes out to socialize. He worries about the judgment his implants might incur from strangers and about the impact of his eyes on his dating life. Insomnia and anxiety, which started before his surgery, continue to bother him, and he becomes depressed after seeing his reflection in the mirror for the first time after the surgery.

After some time, he starts to get used to the implants. He goes to therapy, starts dating again, works, and thinks about skating again, a hobby that he hadn’t pursued since a knee injury in his teenage years. He finally begins to sleep well, and thoughts of his surgery no longer bother him as he goes about his day.