There's a whole beautiful world around me... that I will never see.
"There are many ways I can escape from being blind. I mean, I am pretty normal. But I do have to have a different way of doing things. It's not like I really have any choice, I can't just choose not to be bli- er... visually impaired, or at least that's how my brother insists I say it. But I always just have learned to do things differently, it's just the way things are. My... disability in some ways is a benefit, or at least that's how I try to view it. I mean, I've gotten the opportunity to learn three different languages, one even being American sign language, which was quite fun to learn, though quite difficult. Oh! And I play very many instruments. I can even write my own music! It's weird, it's like... music is the closest thing I can get to 'colour'. Like when I play, I feel like the way people describe colour. Bright, wondrous... alive." I say excitedly unable to stop myself from rambling, as she clears her throat, a scary groggle coming from her mouth while she does so.
"I see... and what can you tell me abou-" Her croaking voice, that gave me the idea that she probably had a cold, was interrupted by the quiet chirp of an alarm. I sighingly reach for my cane knowing our time was up. "Be sure to talk to the front desk, so you can schedule your next therapy session. Bye sweetie." She practically wheezes, and I nod my head in response to her as I pick up my cane. Slowly tapping it to listen for where the door was.
"Oh! Hello, Mr... Reynolds? Right? A pleasure to see you again!" I hear the receptionist say flirtatiously to my brother, Carter, but I suddenly notice she had then immediately stopped after realizing his disinterested face. The sad thing was, I didn't even have to be able to see to notice that much. "Um, so Dr. Birde says that this session was more of a one-sided conversation. Next session she advises to be able to ask questions to fully understand Naomi's perspectives in life. Her next appointment is on Saturday, a week from now. Please make sure she isn't late, as there is a twenty dollar cancellation fee. Hopefully... I see you taking her back again?" I hear a small hesitation as she quietly, yet heavily hints at her interest in him, and I can't help but wince at my brother's lackluster compassion.
"Right...sure. I'll be sure to schedule it." He responds, his voice a flat monotone of disinterest, and almost a slight bit of disgust. My brother's sound arm found me as we chain linked our arms together, leading me outside, allowing a warm breeze to playfully muss my hair. I can't help but smile in response, a bird chirping somewhere far away, trying its best to have its song heard over the loud traffic and shouting of people. I felt the ground become softer under my feet, slightly wincing as small scratchy dewy blades slid creepily across my ankles like some frightening pedophile whispering in my ear. I shiver but continue walking, following the path my brother was making in the grass.
"Why are we walking in the grass?" I ask as I furrow my brow and pout in protest against the cold wet dew now clinging to my poor probably mismatched socks, soaking into my delicately innocent sneakers.
"I'm sorry love... dodging cars is very hard to do. You know how it is..." He replies, right as we stop in front of what I was assuming our car, or my brother was very eager to pursue a career in applying Grand Theft Auto to real life. Frankly, I wouldn't be surprised with the latter. He opens the door and leans me into the seat slowly before closing it and getting into his hot leather seat on the other side. The air conditioning and soft music my brother and I were listening to calmed me down, despite it being quite loud rock, making me forget about my horribly soaked socks as I disassemble my small white cane. Carter chuckled, making the car a bit warmer, lulling me to a peaceful slumber.
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I wake up yawning, stretching in the warm leather seat, that was now slightly cooled down from its obscenely scorching temperatures. I hear quiet whistling, and clear my throat, my brother immediately stopping his tune in realization that I had woken up. "Crap, did I wake you up?" I hear him ask, a hint of regret in his voice.
"What? No, I just woke up. No reason to, just did." I answer, amused by his immediate worry. He sighs before breaking into a small coughing fit.
"I got Mc'Fricken sick again. My dorm is just full of sick, hungover kids right now. Thank god the school year hasn't started yet, or else even more kids would be flooding the dorms, spreading this disgusting cough like the plague." He groans, blowing his nose into what I hope is a tissue.
"So what's it like? Living in a dorm?" I ask, curiously fascinated by the concept of living with a whole group of strangers, who possibly have more diseases than just the common cold, some possibly consisting of sexually contracted ones.
"Messy, annoying, and loud. But some of them make quite interesting conversations." He says, his voice monotone at first, but a hint of sarcasm and covered chortling in the last detail. Despite his callous demeanor, my brother was quite lively and sarcastic, when he felt like it.
"So...fun?" I ask, trying to choose my words carefully, making sure to cover my quite obvious attempts to convince him that school was, and should be, an actual consideration for my future.
"Yes, In ways. It's less fun, more amusing. The parties are definitely something that I could live without." I can't help but feel a tad bit disappointed at his response, but amused seems to be all the reaction I can get from him.
"So, umm... When does school start?" I ask, my cautiousness immediately lost in my hurry to get an answer out of him.
"Naomi. Please tell me you haven't been thinking about going to school, you promised mum and I you would stop considering this. Please, Naomi, you know what would happen if you went. I have already told and explained this to you..." He responds quietly, not raising his voice but showing a tinge of being quite hurt.
I decide to stay quiet, my lips pressed together in fear of saying something wrong. I don't want to set him off or anything, and I already feel bad for breaking the promise I made to him and mom. Well, mom was fine with me going to school. I think she still is now. It's just Carter telling her about how horrible my experience would be if I were to go myself. I think he just reads too many dramas. The car pulls to a stop, and I hope that we were at the house, instead of at the side of the road for him to safely lecture me about promises than for us to get hit or something by continuing to drive.
The loud car engine stops and I hear his car door open, as I unbuckle my seat belt, and start feeling for the door handle. As soon as I find it, it is yanked away from me as my excited puppy-like mother pulls me up in her strong safe arms. But before I can say anything, my brother's voice cuts through the unknown silence that was shrouding us.
"She asked about school again, even after making that promise." A ring of silence encircles us once more, and my mother ushers me inside, my brother's loud feet stomping behind us, going upstairs. My mother and I sit on the soft plush couch, but I can't help but lower myself onto the warm shag rug. What can I say? My mother was quite a fan of the 1900s housing decorations. I didn't mind, everything smelled so nice and was so soft. I ran my fingers over the soft yarn-like carpet.
My mom's scent found me once again, Cinnamon and chocolate chip cookies, a warm smell that came from my mother's constant obsession with baking. But I couldn't exactly complain, I mean, after all, who else was supposed to stuff their mouth with the constant supply of freshly baked goods? My older brother, the vegan, who is also obsessed with dieting and working out, got so used to a sugarless life, he would get sick from even a bite. And then there's me, constantly vacuuming loads of fast foods, baked goods, and wonderfully carb filled junk food. The only other person who ate all the delicious baked goodies my mother concocted was my beautiful younger foster sister, Maya.
Mom quietly brushes her fingers through my hair, while softly humming Blackbird. "I've always been in love with your hair colour." She murmurs under her breath, ignoring my brother. "Bubblegum pink, better than my electric blue. It's a really rare hair colour, girls at your school would love it." A look of confusion comes over my face as I turn to show her my reaction, doing as she's told me before. Just because I can understand moods through other people's voices and breathing patterns, doesn't mean other people can.
"Yes, you heard me right, love. I already bought your supplies, school starts in two weeks. But... it might take you a bit longer, considering all of the paperwork I might have to fill out" I feel hot tears well up in my royal purple eyes, some escaping down my round tan cheeks. And can't help but feel so grateful for this amazing gift, and try expressing it, but all that comes out is a blubbering mess of words and salty tears.
"Ssh, I know. First day of school ever, and first day of high school all in one. I won't lie, it will be very difficult, especially because of your difference. And I promise you, if you ever feel threatened bring it to my immediate attention, and I will handle it." I nod slowly, leaning forward and hugging her tightly, her arms wrapped around me, rubbing my back in soft, circular motions.
"T-thank you." I say quietly, and she just chuckles, patting my head softly.
"Just don't tell your brother just yet, he really cares about you, and has had some bad experiences himself from school."
"What happened?" I ask hesitantly, before feeling her weight shift. She was nervous.
"Ah... that can be a story for another day." She answers, and I shrug it off, knowing not to push her. A story for another day then, it was just one of those things that you had to trust her with. That she would tell you when you were ready to know. And for some reason, I was content like that. If only it would always be that way. If only I could still truly trust her.
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