Curtains of Darkness

Chapter Three

     When I opened my eyes the next morning, I felt a small hand on my arm. I looked up and saw my little sister sitting on my bed. I felt her small hands on mine. I smiled internally and threw the covers aside. As I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes, I noticed that suddenly, my vision was different. The colors of the room were beginning to fade, slowly turning into blurry shapes. I could still make out the object, but I couldn't tell where it ended. My eyesight was starting to go-and yet I was calm. My mother's words from the night before kept me going. I even actually liked the blurriness-it reminded me of The Starry Night , one of my favourite paintings. I smiled-maybe I could go about pretending that my eyes had a filter of The Starry Night in front of them.

     I jumped as I felt a cold hand touch my arm-my mind immediately returned to my room.

     "Hey," I heard my little sister speak. Even at twelve, she looked like an eight year old with her diminutive frame and innocent, small face. I could still make out her shining eyes, her button nose, and rosy pink lips.

     "Hey, Khadija." I croaked back. I made it a point to make sure I drank a lot of water that day. "How are you doing?"

     "I guess I should be asking you that question." Khadija smiled.

     "Well, I'm feeling a bit tired of being inside..." I replied. I really did feel tired of being inside-I wanted to go outside and feel the amazing fall day outside.

     "Maybe we could go to the playground?" Khadija asked shyly. The neighborhood had recently installed a new swing set and she really wanted to go, but our parents were too busy to take her.

     I grinned. "Sure. But first, I want you to pick a flower from Mom's planter and bring me a pen."

     Khadija raised her eyebrows yet nevertheless she ran out of the room and came back with the requested items. I picked up the worn scrapbook on my nightstand and opened it to the last page I'd added something in. I inserted the flower and signed my name at the bottom with the date. I really wanted those carefree days to come back, but I realized that it was too late. The one thing I could do was make the best of the days I had left.

     "Come on, Khadija," I said. "Let's go."

     The neighborhood park was a safe haven for kids-the twisty slides, the bright monkey bars, the roundabout-all of them contributed to making a child happy. I smiled as I saw Khadija run for the new, shiny swings. Once upon a time I had played there too. There was a table under a tree, where my mother used to sit as I would play outside. I walked over and sat down there. I closed my eyes, trying out the darkness that I would soon be seeing every day. I felt the cool breeze wrap around me, engulfing me as if I was in a hug. I heard the laughter of my sister and her friend, the shrill roar of their giggles. I heard the trees move above me, and I felt something small float gently onto my palm. I opened my eyes and saw a golden brown leaf sitting in my hand. I traced a finger over the leaf, feeling the delicate thing. It was so vulnerable- the slightest of winds could make it fly away-yet it was a symbol. Life was changing, and this leaf was going along for the ride. It was all dried up now but nevertheless it was travelling along the road. It would have its time of glory again soon, with the coming of spring. 

     Just like me, I thought. My going blind was just a bump in the road-I was the dried leaf, and I'd have my chance to shine again. Going blind wasn't going to change my personality or how I saw the world. If anything, it would only improve my outlook on life. For the first time in two days, I felt genuinely positive and inspired. I got up from the table and ran over to my sister.

     "Hey Khadija!" I shouted. "Got room for one more on those swings?"

~THE END~