A Life Beyond The Shadows

Chapter One

“Bubby!” “Bubba!” My twin sister and I yelled for our older brother Daniel. He had taken us on a camping trip so she and I would get along again. Ever since I went blind we haven’t gotten along as well as we used to. “Lily. I’m scared.” I said to Lily. “Rose, just calm down. Daniel has to be around here somewhere.” “Lily. You know what I want right now?” “Your guitar?” “Yes!” I began to cry. With Lily being the older twin Mom, Daddy, Daniel, and I just expected her to comfort me whenever I was scared. “Oh Rosy. Don’t cry. Please don’t cry!” Lily began to cry then to. “Lily? Why are you crying?” “Because I’m scared and I don’t know what I’m supposed to do!” She began to bawl, but stopped when I started to sing.  

  “Don’t blink. Just like that. Your six years old and you take nap. Wake-up and your twenty-five and your high school sweet heart becomes your wife. Don’t blink you just might miss your babies growing like mine did. Turning into moms and dads next thing you know your better half. Fifty years is there and then you pray that God takes you instead. Trust me friend a hundred years goes faster than you think. Don’t blink.”

  “Rosy. I love it when you sing.” “Thanks Lily.” I said with a smile. “Lily?” I said looking around clueless. “Yes, Rose?” “I want to go home and curl up with Mr. Snuggles. The teddy bear you gave me when we found out I was blind.” “Oh Rosy.”

  I wanted to cry but I heard clapping. “Daniel is…is that you?” I asked. “Yes Rosy. It’s me.” I tried to hit him, but with me being blind I couldn’t find him. He laughed a little. “Rosy, I’m sorry. But Mom, Dad, and I couldn’t take it anymore.” “Take what anymore?” I asked. “Lily’s and your arguments.” “Oh.” I looked for Lily but had a hard time finding her. “Lily where are you?” I said. “I’m right here Rose. I’m right here.” She said giving me a hug. I cried into her shoulder and said,” I’m sorry Lily!”

  Later that night I sat by the fire. I had a hard time sleeping that night. I heard a noise in the bushes. “Hello? Is somebody there?” I heard a little whimper. “Hello?” I was scared but I wouldn’t let my voice show it. I heard a bark and felt a wet nose on my hand. I reached put and patted it on its head. Daniel got up to check on Lily and I, but when he saw me petting the dog he came and sat down next to me. “Rosy. Who’s this?” “I don’t know. He just walked up to me.” “Rose, how do you know it’s a boy?” “Because you can tell by the way he barks. I also know that he’s a Rottweiler and is about two years old.” “You know for a fourteen year old blind girl, you are very smart.” “Thank you Bubby.” “Come on Rosy. Let’s get you back to bed.” “But I can’t sleep.” I whined. “Rose Mystic Herkowski.” “What?” “You get up and let me help you to bed right now! You need your sleep.” “Bubby!” “Rose.” “Fine. Come on boy.” I called for the dog to come with me to bed. Daniel held my shoulders and led me to Lily’s and mine tent, with the dog following close behind.

  The next morning Lily and I were the first one’s up as usual. We walked down to the lake with the dog. Lily stopped a few feet away from the bank. I walked to the edge of the water. Lily called to me to get away from the water because I would get my new summer dress dirty. I told her,” That’s what we have washing machines for.” She got mad at me. She went back to the camp sight, so I was by myself playing in the water with the dog. I was talking to the dog when I heard someone come up behind me. I froze in my tracks. I didn’t know what do. I turned around very, very slowly and said,” Who’s there?” “You’re looking right at me. How can you…your blind, aren’t you?” said a boy who sounded like he was around my age. “Yes. I’m blind. May I ask what your name is and how old are you?” “My names Jack and I’m fourteen. You?” “My name is Rose and I’m fourteen years old as well.” “Oh. Cool. So what’s a beautiful girl, like yourself, doing out here by herself?” “Well my twin sister was out here with me but I made her mad so she went back to our camp sight.” “Oh. Well, do you want some company?” “Sure.” I said with a smile. We walked along the lake’s bank for the longest time. I finally had to sit down for a little bit. We were still on the rocks when Daniel woke-up. He asked Lily where I was and she told him I was down by the lake. He walked down to the lake. About half way he stopped. Daniel walked down to where Jack and I were. “Hey Rose.” “Hi Daniel.” I said with a smile. “Who’s this Rosy?” “This is Jack. We just met a couple of hours ago.” “Well it’s nice to meet you Jack.” They shook hands.