Stories For A Rainy Day

The Man Who Couldn't See

He couldn't see, or so I thought. How wrong I was... Nothing seemed wrong when I met him. My parents said it was normal for kids to have imaginary friends, but he didn't seem so imaginary to me. Besides, if he was, then why can I still see him all these years later? Why is he sitting beside me as I write this? He was never imaginary, not in the sense most people think. He seemed so nice, so friendly... He still does and he's been the only constant friend I have ever had.

Growing up I didn't have a lot of friends as I was an awkward child. No, before you ask there was nothing wrong with me. No deformities that people would find weird or anything of the sort, I just preferred the world of books and my imagination. As I grew up my friends dwindled away until I had maybe one or two. I didn't realize what was really going on until many, many years later.

When I was in elementary school, I met the man who couldn't see. He didn't seem so unusual to me. I met him one night after my parents had fallen asleep. I had awoken from a nightmare and had started to get up to get my parents when I heard a creak from the chair beside my closet. Looking over, I didn't see anything at first but as the curtains blew in the soft breeze from my open window I caught the glimmer of silver. I tipped my head slightly though I felt no fear and started towards the chair. "Wh-who are you?" I asked as I looked up at the man in the corner.

The man in black turned to face me with a soft smile. "Hello there little one," he replied. "I'm nobody special, just someone you can call a friend. My name is Axel."

I looked up at the man as I sat in front of him, my eyes full of childlike wonder. I was only ten at the time. I couldn't see what he looked like too well and for some reason I swear he heard my thoughts as he reached over and flipped on my bedside lamp. The first thing I noticed was the dark red color of his hair. It ran half way down his back and was tied off in a low ponytail then I noticed the rest of him. His eyes were covered in white bandaging and his clothing was leather, almost like a biker would wear. But what really shocked me was the collar around his neck. I had been taught early about the slave trades and things of that nature and the collar around his neck was one that a slave being sold would be forced to wear. But it was made of silver as was the chain that was attached to it. I tipped my head slightly and reached out to touch the chain, only to be stopped by the male's icy hand.

"No dear, please don't touch that. You have no reason to know about that just yet."

I nodded slightly and smiled looking up at the male before me. "May I ask a question?"

"Of course," came the soft reply.

"Why are your eyes covered? Are you blind?" I watched as Axel shifted slightly in his seat as he thought of the best way to answer me.

"In a way, yes I suppose I am," he replied as he removed the bandages, gently setting them on his lap.

I looked up in pure curiosity and blinked a few times. His eyes were pure silver. "What happened?"

Axel smiled and shook his head. "That's not something you need to know right now either. I'll explain someday, just not right now. For now, you need to go back to bed."

I frowned slightly and looked down. "Will you be here when I wake up?" I heard the male stand, the leather of his jacket crinkling as he bent down and picked me up, moving me to my bed.

"Of course I will be," he replied as he tucked my blankets around me with a smile. "What kind of friend would I be if I just left when we have so many games and fun things to do together?"

I smiled and snuggled into the blankets as he shut off my light and moved the chair closer to my bed. I heard him sit down and felt his fingers run through my hair. Soon after, I felt myself drifting off to sleep as he hummed softly.