Hope From Within the Ashes

Chapter 2: Christian

        “Christian? That you? Get over here. What’cha doin’ over there? I need your help...can’t seem to find my cane. God! I’ve dealt with this annoyance for eighteen years now. One would think I knew how to handle it by now. Stupid body! Stupid eyes! Stupid everything!” Mary called out to me as I was just returning from an outing. She always seemed to be on the go, trying to finish one thing or another. It kept things interesting around her. At least I would never be bored with her around.

        “What’d you do this time Mary? Don’t tell me you trashed the place while I was gone.”

        “Christian! God, sometimes you annoy me. Get over here and give me that cane! Do you think I talk just to hear myself speak?” she asked.

        “So all this time I’ve been wrong about you? Man, that’s a sad discovery.” I turn around the corner and headed into the kitchen. I instantly noticed Mary desperately reaching around on the floor. Stifling a laugh, I grabbed the cane leaning against the door frame, “Ya sure you need this cane? From my point of view it seems like you can get around just fine.”

        “Oh shut up. I don’t need anymore smart mouths hangin’ around here.”

        I smiled to myself and slowly walked towards her. She seemed to be on edge about something but I couldn’t figure out why she would be. The women always seemed calm and collected, only losing it when something last minute came up. After walking up behind her I tapped the cane on her shoulder and asked, “Why do you let go of this if you can’t get around without it? Geez, do you even know where you are?”

        She whipped her head around sharply and said, “Do you think I’m an idiot boy? Last time I checked, this room has always been the kitchen. Just ‘cause I can’t see doesn’t mean I’m ignorant. I still got all my other senses workin’ just fine, so why don’t you shut your mouth and help me out.”

        I silently watched as she got up and tried to collect herself. Never in my life had I figured out how the thing worked, but I supposed as long as she can get around it doesn’t really matter.

        “You gonna stand there like a fool or help me out?” She eyed me wickedly, despite her eyes not being totally focused. Her brown hair was in a rats nest and she wore the same clothes she had on the night before. Something seemed to be bothering her but I couldn’t figure out what, “If your just going to act like some wall ornament why don’t you stand over there.”

        Shaking myself out of a daze I looked up at her and tried to read her expression. “What are you so worried about? Is something the matter or is it just me? You seem kinda out’a sorts right now.”

        “My daughter’s comin’,” she stated simply. At this response I tried to see if there was anything deeper in her expression. I knew her daughter had been taken from almost immediately after she gave birth, but other than that I was clueless. The woman never talked about her daughter. She simply sat quietly in the background, trying to keep an eye on all of the people she had been entrusted to.

        “Christian,” she called silently.

        “Wh...what? What is it?”

        “I may not be able to see, but I am smart enough to understand what your silence means. Don’t pity me boy.”

        “I...But I...I wasn’t…”

        “Don’t worry,” she said simply before silently turning away from me. As she walked away, I noticed the slight slouch in her back. It hurt to know that the woman I saw as a mother was struggling so much. Why did she have to lose her only child? Why did she have to lose her sight? So many questions swarmed around my mind, but mostly I just wanted to know, “Why her?”