Short stories collection

Moments

'It's almost time. We have finally arrived at the end of  your years of darkness, you are finally going to see the world, I assure you that you are going to be wowed at what you see. Do you know exactly where we are?' Doctor K asked.

'I feel calm and tranquil. I can hear the burbling of water, soft breeze hitting my body making me feel cool and refreshed. We are in a beach' I replied as I inhaled the soft breeze which made my body shiver slightly.

'Wow that's really great. We are actually in a beach.' Doctor K replied.

'But why are we here?' I asked with intense curiosity.

'Today is a special day. You are going to see the world again after 15 long years. I decided to bring you here because I love beaches so much. I believe that you seeing the beach first will make you have this tranquility you cannot explain. Whenever I'm down, I come here for succour' He explained as I laughed wryly.

'What's funny?' He asked clearly because of my reaction.

'I'm going to see the world after 15 long years. Will I be able to blend in with the society? Will I behave like a normal person? Won't I be weird? A part of me is glad that I'm finally going to see again after loosing my sight due to my mom's negligence. Another part of me wishes to remain blind.Will I be able to read as others do? Identify colours? Identify my friends? Will I lost my ability to communicate with blind people? Will I be able to read without Braille? Will I be able to withstand this new life?' I asked as tears rolled off my eyes.

'I understand you Tasha. You are afraid because you are walking into a new phase of your life. You are afraid that you might never be able to adapt. You are afraid that you won't be able to socialize. You are afraid that the society might call you weird. You are afraid that you won't be able to fit in to the set standard of the society' Dr K spoke softly as he dropped a handful of pebbles into the water causing it to make a sploshing sound.

'I have spent 20 years on this Earth. 15 years spent in darkness. That's like the bigger part and most important part of my life. Now I wish I hadn't agreed to this surgery. I'm sore afraid of seeing the real world' I answered, my voice teary.

'It doesn't matter how long you've spent in the dark. It doesn't matter how many years you have been unable to see. It doesn't matter the number of breaths you have taken so far. That's not the definition of life Tasha.' He paused allowing me to process his words. 'Life is about the moments that takes our breath away. Life is about taking the bull by the horn.
Life is about making pleasant memories. That moment that takes away our breath, that's life' He explained his voice laced with unshed tears.

'Alright. Dr K I notice that you treat me differently from your other patients. You become so emotional with me. Why is that?' I asked him.

'How old do you think I am?' He asked me.

'What?' I gasped shocked at the out of blues question.

'How old do you think I am?' He asked again, this time his voice sounding authoritative.

'Maybe in your late 20's or early 30's. You are so full of life' I answered.

'You are wrong Tasha. I'm neither in my late 20's nor early 30's. I'm actually turning 50 on Saturday' He replied.

'Jesus!' I exclaimed, shocked at his age.  'I thought you were...'

'No dear. I'm not. The reason I'm so attached to you is because you look so much like my daughter. She would have been 20 years now. Her name was Tasha' He replied.

'What happened to her?' I asked even though I knew the answer.

'She died. She died in a fire accident caused by her mom's negligence. My wife turned on the candle in her room. She left my daughter all alone and went to our room to chat. She was more interested in social media than our lives. The candle fell on the rug and it burnt everywhere. My wife had managed to get out of our room but she couldn't get to my daughter's room on time. My daughter had roasted, roasted!' Dr K spoke as he broke down in tears.

'I'm so sorry Dr K. I'm so sorry' I consoled him as I tried to imagine the pain he went through that time and the pain he is going through now.

'You don't need to be Tasha. This is why I love you so much. Ever since you got admitted into this hospital for your surgery, I found my happiness. Every moment with you takes my breath away. My daughter died at age 12. My wife and I couldn't cope with the loss so we divorced each other. I couldn't fully forgive her. Whenever I see my wife, I'm reminded of the daughter I lost. So dear you shouldn't be afraid. I'm pretty sure that my late daughter would have been happy if she had the chance to live again. So dear are you ready to see the world?' He asked his voice filled with hope.

'Yes Doctor K. I am ready' K replied happily as he gently removed the bandage from my face.

It felt like forever but finally the bandage was finally off my eyes.

'Open your eyes. You can do it Tasha' he encouraged me.

My first attempt to open my eyes was painful. I gasped in pain as I quickly shut my eyes afraid that the surgery wasn't successful.

'Try again Tasha. You can do it.' he encouraged.

Determined, I opened my eyes slowly.
The sight in front of me was so beautiful.

'This is so beautiful' I said as I walked towards the beach.

'Yes it is' Dr K replied as I turned around to face him.

He looked like he was clocking 60. Bags under his eyes, unshaved beards and grey hairs. Although he looked 60, he still looks attractive. Evidence that if he took care of himself more, he would pass for a 40 year old man minus the grey hair.

'Doctor K' I shouted as I jumped into his embrace.

'My Tasha' He replied as he hugged me. We stayed in each other's arms, shedding tears of joy and sadness, appreciating each other.

'Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but the moments that takes our breath away.' I said to myself as I closed my eyes to sleep at 4am due to excitement of being able to see again.