Short Stories

The Blind Woman

Kathy smiled as she stood in front of the mirror. She slid her fingers through her hair and felt her dress. It was made of silk one of the softest things on earth, to her that is. She gave a quick twirl grabbing her purse.
Now where was that darned cane? Shrugging she flicked off her bedroom light, opening the door, she walked into the hall to the kitchen. She nearly tripped over Cocoa, her seeing eye dog. She knelt down and rubbed his soft ears.
When her parents adopted him on her eighteenth birthday, the shelter had told them he was a chocolate lab. Her parents had gotten special trainers when he was a pup. But he was still her best friend.
"Hey Cocoa! Do you know where mommy's cane is?"
He barked once and started walking. Kathy kept her hand on his back following him. He came very close to the front door, sitting down she knew he had found it. Moving her hand around, she finally found the handle. She grimly smiled and opened her door. Cocoa slipped past her into the fenced in front yard. She could hear him somewhere in the back right corner doing something.
Oh, how she yearned to see him chase his tale. To play fetch with him and see him run after the stick or toy. To look into his eyes. To see him pant. Her dad had said he seemed to smile when he did. How she wished to see his canines.
She slowly approached her front gate. When she opened it a cool breeze rustled her long, curly, black hair. She no longer knew if it was black. But she knew it was curly. Always had been, always will be.
She began waltzing down the sidewalk to the store. She was out of milk and she was tired of toast and bagels.

It was rush hour. She was getting tangled up in a mass of people. She stopped for barely a second. Her cane was hanging loosely from her hands and was knocked from her grip. She yelped and started looking around. "Someone, can you help me?! I- I dropped my cane! Please, anyone! I can't see!"
No one paid attention but she heard a lot of yelling. What was going on? Didn't anyone care? She started going in one direction using her foot to look for her cane. She knew for a fact that she was going the wrong way when she ran into a wall and fell on her butt.
"Ow, ow..." She murmured rubbing her head. She felt around for her cane now that most of the noise had dissipated.
All she felt was cement. She continued rubbing her head, she had a feeling a bruise was going to form. She must have jumped a foot off the ground when someone touched her shoulder. She turned around wishing she could see their face.
"Hello? Who are you?" She asked starting to get up.
The stranger took her hand and helped her up. "I'm Don" he said. "Sorry if I scared you."
"You're fine. Um, do you, by any chance, see a cane?"
His hand left her's and she heard him take a few steps. When he came back he put her cane in her hand. "There you are." He said quietly, almost in a whisper. "If that's all you need, I'll be on my way."
Kathy bit her bottom lip. "Uh... Sir?"
She heard a noise like gravel as he turned on his heels to face her. "Yes ma'am?" He asked emphasizing the word.
Kathy couldn't help but smile. She rarely had any human communication so this was a little fun to her. "Sorry..."
"Nothing to worry about. Now, what can I do for you?"
"I was wondering if you could help me get some milk. I'm usually really shy about asking the store clerks."
The boy chuckled quietly and took her hand. "No problem" he stopped talking for a second.
"Kathy. My name's Kathy."
"Glad to meet ya. Now let's go get that milk."

Don, for the most part, wasn't a bad guy. He and Kathy had heaps in common. Though she wished she could see what he looked like. Which is what started the fight.
"Hey Don?"
"Yeah" he asked through a mouthful of pancake.
"What do you look like?" She asked putting her hands on her knees.
He was silent for a few seconds. "Believe me. You do NOT want to know."
"But... I do." Kathy said leaning forward trying to touch his face. But all she hit was air.
   "No you don't."
   Kathy felt the cushions on her couch lift slightly as Don stood up.
   "What is up with you Don?" Kathy asked crossing her arms.
   Don was silent and she heard him walking away. Kathy growled. "Don't you dare leave." She said through her teeth.
   But... He did.
   Kathy quickly got up. Grabbing her cane, she strode to the door. She threw it open, allowing it to hit her wall. "Don! I just want to know what you look like! What is the big deal?!"
   There was no reply. She started walking down the steps. Then she misplaced her foot. She was in the air for a a split second before colliding with the ground.
   Her cheek scraped against her walk way. She leaned up, the left side of her face was on fire. She could feel small trickles of blood drip from her cut. She teared up and blew on her scraped hand. A few tears slid down her face, stinging her cheek.
   There was no reply from Don. She didn't even know if he was there.
   She stood up and started looking for her cane. She started for the porch and tripped over the first step. Where she sat and cried.
   She didn't know how to get along without her cane. She couldn't hear anyone on the streets. She didn't even know where Cocoa was. She was alone. "Don" she whispered. "Don... Please help me... Please Don..."
   There was no sound. More tears streamed down her cheeks. "Someone?! Please!" She whisper yelled.
She sat there for a long time. Waiting for anyone to notice her. To ask what was the matter. Nobody ever did. She gave a shuddering sigh.
   Then something happened. She felt something against her lips. A hand pressed against her non-damaged cheek.
   Someone was kissing her...
   Kathy slowly closed her eyes. Her tears felt like fire against her cuts. But it somehow numbed out. The person slowly drew back. Kathy opened her eyes wishing she could look at this stranger.
   "You okay?..." It was Don.
   She slowly leaned forward into his chest. She was surprised that he laid his head on her's. "I'm sorry for pushing, Don."
   "It's Cocoa."
   "What?" Kathy asked leaning up. She choked on the word as she said it.
   "I was worried so I followed you to the store... Then you fell. I changed in front of the crowd. Won't lie, I am good lookin."
   Kathy sat there for a long moment. He was joking. "Stop messing with me."
   "Okay..." He lightly kissed her head and got her cane.
   Taking her hand he lead her into the house. He wasn't called a seeing eye dog for nothing. He would forever stand by her side, like any loyal dog. He loved and would devote his life to Kathy.
   Till the day he died.