r/nosleep
Why I Regret Getting Glasses by reddit user aspiringcadaver
“I have to tell you something,” I said. “And you’re probably not going to believe me.”
“Okay,” she said. “Try me.”
“Do you remember this morning when Sophie’s picture fell under my desk?” I turned my glasses in my hands as I spoke.
…
I’m nearsighted, so my new glasses didn’t make a big difference when I first sat in my cubicle at work. That is, until I stooped down to retrieve a pen I dropped. I saw a watercolor ship, painted on wrinkled notebook paper and torn on one corner: child’s work. I figured it belonged to Amanda in the next cubicle, who was always taping her daughter’s latest art to her desk.
I reached for it. My fingers brushed the space where it should be and felt only the cheap carpet. I took off my glasses – they were still throwing off my depth perception a bit – and looked again. No ship. I put them back on, and there it was. I tried to grab it again, but, though it looked like my hand was right on it, I could only feel the carpet, still. Again, I took the glasses off. This time, I stood up and took several steps back from the desk, scanning the floor for the picture. Nothing. I put the glasses back on, and there it was.
“Hey, Alex!” Amanda called as she approached her desk. “Love the glasses!”
“Thanks,” I said. I smiled. She smiled. Heat rushed to my face. I really like Amanda. I forgot all about the ship for a moment.
I took the glasses off and rubbed my eyes as I sat down again. I could hear Amanda typing away next door. Then, I heard a rustle of paper and felt something brush my leg. I looked down, and there was the painting of the ship right next to my foot.
“Pst! Alex, can you hand me that?” Amanda said.
“Sure.” I frowned and reached for the painting again. The paper crinkled under my fingertips. I pushed my chair out and leaned around the cubicle, holding out the picture.
“Nice piece,” I said.
She smiled, “Thanks, it’s an original.”
“An original Sophie watercolor? Nice!”
She laughed. “She’s with her dad this week. Drinks tonight?”
“Sounds like a plan.”
“Great! You want to pick me up around 8ish?”
*“Yes, I do.” *
…
“Yeah, sure I do.” Amanda said.
“Do you remember how, when you were walking to your desk, I was standing in front of mine looking at the floor.”
“Yeah, I remember.” She said, smiling a little.
“I was standing like that because I was looking for the picture. I saw it under my desk before you got to yours.”
“But it didn’t fall down there until later, Alex.” No smile, anymore.
“I know. But I could see it there, before it fell. But only with my glasses on.”
“I’m not sure I see where you’re going with this.”
“Okay,” I said, taking a deep breath. “Do you remember, at lunch, when I said I had a paper cut on my finger, and you said you didn’t see it?”
…
“What are you doing?” Amanda asked from across the table. “Rolling a booger?”
“Yep,” I said and flicked my fingers in her direction.
