Blind

Chapter 1

Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.-Mark Twain

Darkness. That was what I woke to. First registering that I was in a bed, and trying to look around, waiting for my eyes to adjust. Nothing. Well, there was of course a reason for that. Maybe...maybe realizing that something blocking my vision! Or perhaps the room I was in had no light. my hands rose to my face, but hesitated suddenly, afraid of what they might find. Gritting my teeth, I continued, finding a fabric laid across my eyes. Relief flooded through me. Yes. This must be what was obscuring my vision. Of course! Reaching around the back of my head, I worked at the tightly pulled knot, sighing when it fell off, then tensing almost immediately. The world around me was still dark. Reaching up again, I found no cloth, and I started to panic, feeling my breaths grow sharper and shorter. Grabbing at the sheets frantically, I felt them clump between my fingers, but couldn't see them. Reaching out shakily to the side, I felt a table, but couldn't see it. My head whipped around as I heard a door open, and then a gasp of...what seemed to be happiness? Then a distinctly feminine voice calling out with excitement,

"Doctor! Doctor Boyan! The patient is awake!" I shrank back as he heard the tap-tapping of footsteps nearing my bedside, then tensed as I felt a cool hand on mine.

"Hello. I'm Nurse Strahl. I've been looking after you for the past 3 weeks." Turning my head towards where I thought she was, I felt a hand pull my face the other way. "I'm...I'm sitting on this side of your bed." Her voice was distinctly sympathetic, pity soaking through every word she said. I could practically picture the look on her face, eyebrows pulled up worriedly, mouth turned down. It was so clear in my head yet... I heard the door open again, and a heavier set of footsteps walking up to my bed.

A gruff voice said to the nurse, "Alright Torie. You can go now." Someone-the nurse I assumed-patted his hand. The sound of a chair being pushed against the floor made me wince, and she apologised, then left. The door swang shut behind her, and I struggled to find the doctor, until he spoke again, more gently, with that same tone of pity that I was beginning to hate.

"I'm on your right side." I turned my head, and opened my mouth to say something, then coughed when I realized my throat and mouth were dry.

"Ah!" He seemed to scramble for something, then took one of my hands, and guided it towards a cup of water. My fingers gripped it tightly, and I raised it shakily to my lips, taking gulp after gulp of that fresh, cool water, soothing my throat immediately.

"What-" I felt my voice rasp uncomfortably, and coughed. "What happened to me? Where am I? Who are you?" A barrage of questions escaped me all at once, and I assume the doctor did something, because after a short silence from him, he apologised.

"Why are you saying sorry?"

"Because...because I raised my hand. Something you couldn't see." That pity again. I gritted my teeth, not because of the fact that he did something I couldn't see, I understood. After all, raising your hand to shush someone is an everyday thing. You do it without even thinking.

"What happened to you is...well, you see, you were in a car accident. Fortunately, you'd passed out before this happened, but a few small shards of glass pierced both your eyes. You'll..." The doctor hesitated. "You'll be blinded for life." Pausing to let this sink in, I felt my mind reel. How was it that I couldn't remember this?

"We tried out best, but unfortunately nothing could regain your sight. We did remove the shards however, but the colour of your pupils have changed drastically. We believe because of the stress placed on them at the time.

"So I'm at the hospital then."

A short silence, in which I assume he nodded, before he said quickly,"Yes. You're at the Bickdens Hospital." I raised my eyebrows at that. Bickdens was about the most high quality place you could get...

"But, I believe we haven't been introduced. My name, is Culley Boyan. What might yours be?"

I opened my mouth, then furrowed my brow. I couldn't... I couldn't remember. Thinking harder, I got a flash of a name, and grasped at it."My name is...Farris. Farris Spiers. But...I can't seem to remember anything from about...a year ago."

"Yes. You wouldn't be able to. You see, you did bang your head quite hard, and we believe that has given you temporary amnesia. You should start remembering things bit by bit. Until then, we will be releasing you from hospital after we're completely sure you're ok, but you'll have daily checkups from one of our helpers." I nodded. Seemed fair enough. Wriggling out of the sheets, I felt the rough material of whatever I was dressed in rub against my legs.

The doctor placed a hand on my shoulder and stopped me."Wait. I'll call the nurse back, then you can try to walk. I have to go to another patient. Stay right there, okay?" I nodded again. Like a dumb child that didn't know how to do anything else. I heard the door swing open, then the doctors receding footsteps as he called out,

"Nurse Stahl-!" I waited for the nurse to come in, feet itching to start walking. Finally, she came, her heels alerting me to her presence.

"Alright then Farris-" So the doctor told her my name. "You want to start walking huh? Alright take my hands." I felt her cool palms rest under mine, and I curled my fingers around them hesitantly.

"Okay, now try standing up." I stood, and for a split second, I stayed there, before I pitched forward, Nurse Stahl catching me. My legs wobbled under me, and I looked-no. Not looked. I angled my head down.

She clucked her tongue, and said lightly,"Well I wouldn't be surprised if you couldn't stand after 3 weeks in bed. Come on. Now you've got your balance, let's try walking." I took a shaky step, then a second. One after the other, I slowly grew steadier, until I was walking confidently.

"Alright! Now try by yourself." I let go reluctantly, and took a couple of steps, then stopped. Then a couple more. Then stopped.

"Go on." I tried walking steadily forward, only for her to stop me about 5 steps in.

"That way's the wall sweety." I turned around, feeling my face flush with embarrassment. It wasn't long after that before I could walk, and run a couple of steps.

The nurse just checked my injuries, stating that they were in fact minor ones, then tucked me into bed, telling me to get some sleep before dinner. I nodded, and heard, rather than saw her click the light-switch.

"Goodnight Farris." Even though her tone was light, I could still hear that pity. That goddamn pity! I turned over in the bed, and felt like crying, but only a sob made it's way out of my throat. Curling up into a huddle of blankets in the sterile hospital bed, I tried to get to sleep, if only to dream of a world where I could still see.

AN: Alright, so, this is the first chapter of a book I'm writing. I might or might not upload more, depending on the feedback. Even if I don't upload, I'll be writing it, so it really does depend on the votes/comments I get! Thanks for reading, Draconequus.