The warm spring breeze rushed in through the open window, carrying with it the scent of lavender. I inhaled deeply, letting the breeze fill my lungs with warmth. I rested on the windowsill , my knees tucked into my chest. My forehead pressed up against the windowpane, my breath surely forming a patch of moisture on the glass. Everyone in the home was still asleep. I could almost hear the quiet snores of Roman tiptoeing down the hall. A bird outside began to sing a melodious tune, drawing my attention away from inside once again. I whistled at the bird, trying to see if it would mimic my melody.
Instead, I heard whistling from inside the house. I listened closely, trying to identify who the being was by the sound of their footsteps, but I could not. The footsteps of the approaching person were foreign, I sucked in a deep breath, hoping the person would pass by me. The footsteps ceased as the person neared, their breathing seeming strained. I tried to think logically of who the person would be, but every answer I came up with scared me even more. The person stood for what seemed like hours in the same spot. I knew that someone was bound to wake up soon, but what were two or more blind kids going to do to an intruder or ax murder. There was only so much you could do with only your sense of hearing, touch, and smell.
"Hello?"
The voice of the intruder took me by surprise, the boy didn't seem older than twenty, a familiar accent weighing heavy on his words. I knew that the boy had heard my quiet gasp when he started to walk towards me slowly. The curtain shielded only a portion of my body, he was bound to see me, if he could see at all, as he came closer.
"Who are you?"
I asked in an angry tone, planning on rolling out of the first floor window if the boy tried to attack me. When he stopped walking he was only inches away from me.
"I'm Harry, sorry if I scared you."
He answered, causing my heart rate to drop slightly. "Someone who was planning on killing me wouldn't have gave me their name," I thought, well hoped. No one had mentioned having any visitors at all today and Ruth had not mentioned the arrival of a new patient, so why was Harry there?
"You didn't scare me."
I snapped, trying to sound tough, prompting him to chuckle quietly.
"Well then why are you hiding behind the curtains?"
He took a few steps forward, moving the curtains to the side so I was no longer hidden.
"I was listening to the birds."
I retorted, jumping off of the windowsill.
"Ah, listening to the birds."
He said in a mocking tone.
"Better than listening to you."
I grumbled, causing him to gasp.
"Wow, that really hurt."
He fake sniffled, taking a step back as if I had hit him.
"Save the tears for your pillow. Why are you even here? Did you just walk past this house and think ' I'm going to waltz in here and harass a stranger at seven in the morning.It will be fun.'?"
I started to walk back towards my room, planning to wake my roommate, Alix, and tell her about Harry.
"Actually, no. I'm volunteering here for the summer."
He stated, causing me to halt. I turned to face him. In all of the sixteen years I had been at Ms.Belinda's Home for Blind Individuals, we had never once had volunteer. I thought that maybe he had been lying, but the idea was pushed to the back of my mind when I had a sudden realization.
"So, you're not blind?"
I questioned. There were only three people in the home that were not blind, Jane, the secretary, Kira, the nurse, and Ruth ,the director of the home.
"No."
Harry mumbled, a small smile appeared on my lips. Just as I went to continue the conversation, a door opened. I turned to see Zeke stumbling out of his room, with his painted cane.
"Who are you talking to, punk?"
He mumbled, his voice raspy.
"No one, go back to sleep."
I lied, watching as Zeke leaned his head against the door frame, his eyes fluttering closed.
"Zeke."
I repeated, causing him to jolt up.
"Goodnight, punk."
He murmured, heading back into his room.
"Goodnight, prince."
I laughed, knowing that Zeke wouldn't remember our conversation when he woke up in a few hours.
"Punk?"
Harry questioned the moment Zeke's door latched shut.
"Mhhm."
I mumbled, sitting down on the couch behind me.
"Why punk?"
He sat down next to me, he was now close enough that I could smell his cologne, which surprisingly, smelled pretty nice.
"It's a game we used to to play when we were little. I was a punk and he was a prince, we were enemies, I guess. It's hard to explain."
I admitted, remembering all the times we would get in trouble for fighting during the game with pillows and once, our canes.
"So not Prince the singer?"
Harry asked, sounding quite disappointed.
"No, not Prince the singer."
I laughed, Harry joining in. I was anticipating for someone to burst out of their room and yell, but they did not. Harry and I sat together on the couch for an hour, where we talked about nothing in particular. The silence of the house, other than us of course, was unusual, but nice, so I paid little attention to it.
"I just realized, I never asked for your name?"
Harry proclaimed as he stood to leave.
"Noah."
I replied, standing up next to him.
"I like it. It suits you."
He stated, moving suddenly down hall. I rushed towards him, confused as to why he left so abruptly.
"What do you mean 'suits me'?"
I called out, not sure what to make of his comment. I marched down the hall, wanting an answer from Harry, but he was no where to be found.
