A Collection of Stories

Red

My world is a constant sheen of nothingness. I have never seen the sky or the ground or water or even another human being. But that's okay, because I see things differently. Of course I want to see all of the glorious things normal people are blessed with seeing, but I've learned to accept the darkness. I'm used to it. I'm blind.

Honestly, I don't mind not being able to see. I get by on my own. Since my sight is useless, I have learned to act on sound. All the noises around me are intensified. I don't need a cane, or a walking stick, or a dog. I have the colors too.

You see, instead of seeing people, I see colors. And it's not like I'm seeing the color of their clothes or hair, it's almost like I'm seeing their auras. Bright pops or flushes of color dab on the black when I "see" someone. Each color is different. My mother's is a soft pearly pink, my sister's is a rich blue, my father's is a rough grey. I recognize them only by their colors, each very distinct. I'm not even sure if the colors I see are actually what they look like to a normal person with sight. I've just used the words and attached them to what I thought the color would look like. Mom described them to me so I would have an idea. It's a crazy thing, the colors. An extraordinary gift I was somehow blessed with. I would hate to be living in the dark more than I already am.

••••••••

As I walk home on the sidewalk to my family's New York apartment, colors are whizzing by. Mom thinks it's dangerous for me to be walking the streets without help, but I am perfectly capable. The colors guide me. Greens and yellows sizzle in the corners of the black as I push through the crowded sidewalk. I'm almost home. My ears justify the thought. The wind chimes on our porch are whistling a high tune, calling me home. Browns and purples are added to the mix, creating a muddled canvas over my eyelids. A lot of people out today. And then,
the
canvas
explodes.
I stop dead in my tracks. I've never experienced a color so vivid, so overpowering. I gasp, and people push past me.

Red.
So warm and bright. The color has swarmed the black, making me squint. For one blissful second, my mind is clear and my eyes bright with wonder. Red! I'd never seen red before. You'd think I would have, but I haven't. Black pops against the red, fighting through. The person must be walking in the other direction. And then
my
red
disappears.

No. I turn swiftly on my heel and walk quickly the other direction until the red starts bleeding back into the blackness. I was terrified that I would never see red again. This could be my only chance. My walk unconsciously turns into a run when the red fades again. Soon, the person must be right in front of me; the color is practically burning my brain it's so bright and beautiful. I reach my
hand out and claw at the air. I stop clawing, embarrassment filtering through me. This person probably thinks I'm attacking them. Pull yourself together! But my mind was dazed by the red lights dancing in front of my face. I grab onto an arm, I think. A man's arm, I conclude. His arm is lean and hard. My fingers shake.

The red burned even brighter when the man faced me. I felt his body turn, I was still clutching his jacket. "I'm sorry," I rasped, "I'm sorry, I just..I just thought I recognized you." Lie. I heard a chuckle. "It's cool, um, I'm not sure I know you." His voice was young and deep, which caught me off guard. The man was probably around my age. I grinned, wishing I could see his face. I bet he was studying me, trying to figure out who I am. "Yeah, I don't think I know you, um.. are your eyes alright? Can you see okay?" Concern laced his pretty voice. My eyes were probably staring off into the depths of space, not anywhere near him. The red blazed brighter than ever. "Yes," I whispered, smiling.

"I can see perfectly."

*******
Written by RedRoses818

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