Blind. It's what I am. There's no way to change it. Doctors told me if I didn't have my sight by the time I turned 15, I'd most likely be blind for the rest of my life. It's my 20th birthday today. I gave up on my hope of actually seeing. My mom wanted to do my hair today because she had a surprise for me. I wasn't excited. I never liked my birthdays, it means another year without sight. I loved my life and I am normally really positive, just not on my birthday. "Okay sweetie. Your hair is done." My mom squeals. Knowing that I like to touch to learn things, she doesn't tell me what it looks like. I raise my hands to my head. My fingers follow a braid to the back of my head, that continues to the other side. The rest of my hip length hair is in loose curls. "It looks great mom. Thank you." I smile, in what I hope is to be her direction. "You're very welcome. Now, do you want Jessie to come up here and pick your outfit?" Jessie is my favorite cousin. She never treats me like I'm special, but she knows her boundaries with it. There are obviously things that I can't do and she respects that. I nod my head quickly and wait. I hear pounding footsteps come up the stairs before my door is thrown open. "Hello sexy! Ready to look hot?" I can hear the smile on her face and I laugh. "Yes!" She barrels in and goes to my closet to dig around. "So has mom told you what my surprise is yet or no?" I ask in hopes that she'll tell me. "Yes but I'm not telling you, it's a surprise for a reason." I can hear that stupid smirk in her voice but I laugh anyway. "Skirt, shorts, or jeans?" I think for a second before saying shorts. I could already feel the Ohio heat in my fan cooled room. "Shorts." I hear my hangers shuffle one more time before she opens my dresser drawers then closes them. "Okay. I have two different ones for you to chose from." I walk over to my bed where she always lays my things out and feel them. The first outfit contained Denim shorts that would come down to just above my knees. The shirt she picked was a tank top with a sequenced heart. The second had shorts that would come to about mid thigh and a muscle tank with the word Van's stitched into it. "What color are these?" I ask motioning towards the tank top and shorts. "The top is gray and the shorts are black." She squeals. I laugh and nod. She waits till I finish dressing to sit me on my bed. "Converse, boots, or sandles?" Jessie asks. "Converse please." Jessie gives me my socks and hands me my shoes. After I put them on we walk down stairs and my mom takes pictures of us. "Ready to go sweetie?" Mom asks. "Yes." I add a smile and she grabs my hand to drag me out of the house with a squealing Jessie behind me. We drive for a while, listening to old 80's rock bands as well as some newer ones. All of us were singing at the top of our lungs and laughing when we went off pitch. We finally pull to a stop and mom says, "Okay, Jessie, keep an eye on her okay? If it becomes too much for her, call me okay? I'll be in the area." I frown and keep my questions to myself. I climb out of the car and hold hands with Jessie up to a gate. "Hi, we were the ones to get the backstage passes." Again I hold my questions back and the guy answers with, "Let me see them please." Seconds later we were being lead back through a hallway. "They're right in here. Just knock when you're ready. They know you're on your way. Take your time." The deep voice says before I hear his footsteps walk away. "Will you tell me now Jessie?" I whine. "Yes." She giggles. "Okay, we're at a venue, to see a band, called." She pauses. The suspense is killing me. A band? Backstage passes? "Who is it?" I squeal. Still keeping my voice down so who ever it was didn't hear me freaking out. "Pierce The Veil!" She whisper yells. I slap my hands over my mouth to help contain the scream that would be sure to happen. "Are you serious?" I whisper yell. "Yes. Yes. Okay, are you ready?" I bite my lip to contain my smile. Once I take a deep breath and compose myself, I nod. She knocks on the door and it swings open. "You are the two beauties who got the tickets huh? Well hello! Come on in!" A chipper voice tells us. Jessie guides me in and I look straight hoping to be looking at one of them. "Hi I'm Vic! And you two are?" He asks politely. "I'm Jessie and my amazing cousin Layana." She gushes. "Beautiful names for beautiful girls. I'm Jaime by the way." I hear the soft scrape of skin that most likely signifies the sound of a hand shake. "Layana, I don't think I've ever heard that name before." Vic says as I feel him step in front of me. Jessie quickly and quietly whispers in my ear, "His hand is about a foot in front of your belly button." I carefully reach my hand out and luckily bump fingers, then grab his calloused hand for a quick shake. Another voice sounds through the room, a cute voice. "Hi I'm Tony." I know from the many conversations we've had about Pierce The Veil, that Tony is Jessie's favorite. "Hi, can I have a hug?" She questions, her voice raising and octive from her obviously jumbled nerves. "Sure." He says with a slightly amused tone. While I assume that they're hugging, the last voice appears. "Hey, sorry I'm late, I was getting food. I'm Mike." I stood there frozen. I could hear Tony and Jessie quietly talking so she couldn't guide me through what to say or do. I feel him walk to me and I blush. "What's your name gorgeous?" His voice was like a drug in itself. I look through my lashes and say in a quiet voice, "Layana."
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