Whole Story- take care of my eyes

 

TAKE CARE OF MY EYES

Part 1

The crispy wind was blowing Sia’s soft brown hair over her face. She didn’t flinch. Sitting on the cool sandy grains facing the sea, she shifted uncomfortably and strained her neck upwards to look in awe the peaceful azure sky, still, above the gushing waters of the sea. Sia breathed in the salty air and out as she simultaneously lowered herself to lie down on her back. She had taken a good look of her surroundings on this beautiful day just as she did everyday and would wonder at the beauty of nature. Even that she was 28 by now, she knew she had the right to gape wondrously at the early sunrise, the swaying trees, the blossoming little flowers, the cute little birds that were impossible to catch and everything else that nature had once again revealed to her. Before this, everything seemed dull and meaningless, or was it? And now Sia felt a painful pinch in her heart; butterflies in her stomach that would drive her crazy. The she was lost again- lost in thought.

“Mummy, how did you and dad come together, why not someone else?” The round face and plump little Sia asked one day, ages ago, as they had been watching tally. Sia was mature for her age and probably a little older than other girls. Her philosophical question had caught her mother in the throat and she had burst into a cackle.

“Well, honey, her mother explained, there are the fairies living in the sky and it’s their job to decide who our soul mate is.”

The clever but astonished Sia was still an innocent child and had considered the myth a fact. Then she was six years old.

 

“A nice useless story.” Sia told herself as she, consciously pulled herself up to sit again facing the emerald sea. The she was lost again in the vivid memories of her recent hard days. “But I still don’t know that angle guy is?

Sia had had an enjoyable life. A happy, playful girl she had been who loved nature and her friends and family. In fact everything and everyone had loved her. Wherever she went, people smiled sweetly, trees seemed to whirl with joy, birds chirped as if announcing someone’s arrival. Sia was always on the top of everyone’s cheerful gossip. Wow! From being an attention-seeker to an attention-loser! They had been such an adorable family until a disaster fell upon them. And disaster after disaster befell them that had completely transform their lives.

 

Part 2

They were a small family of four-Mum, Dad, Sia and her elder sister, Monica. Monica, unlike Sia was rather a quite girl who kept things to herself. She mostly played indoors, watched T-V and kept few friends. Outwardly she loved her parents as her little sister but something had made her uneasy. She did not like it. Everyone saw Sia, everyone loved Sia. She was nothing to anyone. Sometimes she felt that she was deprived of her parents’ love. They were always attending to Sia needs. They always loved her a little less. Sometimes they completely forgot that she even existed. It was always Sia ad she knew it would always be. This was a heartbreak enough for the dark haired Monica who was three years older than Sia.

It happened when Monica was in ninth grade. She had turned into an attractive young girl. Her delicate figure and wavy dark hair took the breath out of guys. She was transforming into a gorgeous fire which became dangerous combined with her envious feelings. Because one day all hell broke loose. Monica had finally decided that there was no place for her amid her family. She wanted to get rid of them. She wrote it all in a piece of paper and hid it quietly I her mother’s bedroom shelf before running off to school. That afternoon she never came home. Sia had been screaming as she watched her devastated mother holding limply Monica’s painful farewell she had discovered in her shelf amid her garments. Dad was an image of angry bull. How could this be possible? Why would their daughter call them a failure? That night after sending Sia to bed kissing her and holding her tight for fear of losing this one, the parents quietly closed their bedroom door. They didn’t sleep. They pondered over all this like wise parents.

What was it that made Monica disappear forever taking with her the happy times of their life? There must have even a reason behind it. Was it them? Did they, after all, compel her to leave the house? And would she ever return?

The next days passed with a lingering grief in their hearts. Dad dropped Sia to school and picked her up on his way back. The once lively home had eventually turned into a gloomy uninteresting abode. Everyone had lost their minds. Sia had missed her previous life. With the passing days the family of three vowed to protect each other and make them happy. The grief faded a little by little ad they hoped.

But life always has its own way, no matter how much you try. After six months, they had decided that they had the right to live and Sia went to her friend’s birthday party dresses in a right green dress ad a glittery gift for Hana, the birthday girl. But as she was drive on her way back, the car had accidently skidded on the gravel road and turned upside down as it collided forcefully against a tree trunk.

 

Part 3

Rushing wildly the emergency ward, Sia’s parents asked for the doctor. Her mother was trembling like hell and her father’s white face made him unrecognizable. The doctor told them that Sia was lucky to have survived the terrible accident, but the lady driver, who Sia confirmed to be her friends nun, had died on the spot. But the sad news was still to be heard. The expression on her parents face suddenly turned from relief to horrify as they learned the ugliest truth. Sia was permanently blinded in the eye.

“What! O, this can’t be! Her mother had shrieked gripping her husband by the collar, who thought himself cursed that moment. She was the only one we had.”

They were so lost that they didn’t eve notice the doctor leaving them alone and Sia sitting helplessly on a wheelchair with bandage where her eyes used to be. This was her fate. Would she have no future? Will she never see the faces of her dear needy parents again? Her world had become a vacuum.

Several years had passed. Sia’s parents did everything to help, but no help came. Sia had left her school, her friends- everything she had in her world. She was tutored at home. She became so quite- even quieter that Monica used to be. Several years of quietness had taken away her mesmerizing charm. At first many families visited to give their grievances, but gradually they wet their own ways and rarely met again. The painstaking feelings were not because of people’s indifferent attitude but because they missed Monica and had hoped that she would one day come back to see her sister and say that she still loved her parents.

It was when Sia had reached a mature age of 27 that she had compromised with her life. She would often go out with her parents ad stroll along the pavements using her walking stick as a guide. She had become familiar with the paths leading to and away from her house. Sia was still beautiful, but helpless which forced people to keep their distance and acknowledge her with a pitiful glace to her mother. They had always prayed for help. Some hope. Which did arrive.

.

Part 4

“What’s he going to do, mom?” Sia enquired as the three of them halted in front of an average sized metal door. Sia’s dad knocked gently and all of them patiently waited, their hearts pleading for everything to be fine.

The door opened quietly to reveal a young lad, about 17 staring at their faces.

“We’ve heard of someone… um… who can tell about people’s future... And help them when…” Sia mother trailed off. Suddenly she felt ridiculous under her husband’s nervous glare.

The expression on the boy’s face softened ad he motioned them to come in. Feeling a sense of relief, they followed him through a corridor and into a spacious well-furnished room.

“He’s a fine you lad.” Helena thought as they saw a tall, handsome young man with jet black hair and his well-defined face features. Sia obviously couldn’t see it, but felt the strangeness of this encounter. The young man signaled them to sit. As the parent took their seat, he examined the gorgeous girl who didn’t even move a muscle and refused to take a seat.

“Are you going to tell me what’s going on?” Sia broke the silence.

The man looked up and for the first time noticed that she was blind in the eyes.

Back In home, Sia’s dad sat hunched in the armchair while her mother paced restlessly back and forth. Sia just sat there expressionless. Recalling their visit to a lad called Steve, they had learnt that Steve didn’t have much to help. Of Course, he had a little knowledge about fortunetelling which he got from his grandmother who had passed away.

“I’ve told you a thousand times that there is nothing in the whole world that we can do. O one can help us. Sia’s Dad explained hopelessly and her mother went into tears. It is such a pain when you find out that your hope had been nothing but a mere misunderstanding.

“I’m sorry. I just thought maybe we could find some help. I just tried because he seemed to be listening to us...”

 “Yes. He was being sympathetic. Even I feared he would be like others. Nice person.” Dad admitted.

“Perfect for my Sia. Her mom thought to herself glumly. Only if she could see.”

 

Part 5

The next day was better than the last. A cool breeze was blowing outside flapping Sia’s long floral skirt gleefully. Her long blond hair was swaying gently as she trotted past the large oak tree with a worn out welcome post sign. As she sat down on the bench ad put her cane beside her, some came and sat down next to her.

“Hi. It’s me Steve.” Said a gentle friendly voice. Sia nodded and smiled broadly.

“Hello. Good day, isn’t it?” She replied. She only heard his voice. She couldn’t see him and wanted to. Ut then, she had never seen anyone for quite a time.

Then they had a chat. It was lovely for Sia. It had been quite a long time anyone had ever wanted her company. Sia started liking Steve. He was kind and a friendly person. She wondered what he looked like. On the other hand, Steve had already fallen for Sia the moment he looked at her. To him she was a beautiful, innocent and brave girl different from others. He did feel sorry for her. Life really had been unfair for Sia.

“I really like your company. It’s the best.” Sia laughed

After moments of Silence, it was Steve who spoke first.” Sia, Will you marry me?”

Sia instantly freaked out. This was the last thing she had expected from anyone. To be called theirs. She had made up her own fairy tale that the fairies in the sky had decided to keep her aloe for the rest of her life. And now here was Steve asking for something no one wanted. She thought about the validity of his statement.

He was waiting for a reply.

“But, Steve I can’t see. This is my greatest weakness. How will you be able to spend your life with a blind girl?”

“You’re Perfect Sia. His voice became heavier you’ve got to believe in yourself for this one. No one’s going to make you feel better if you don’t. I have got everything here, Sia. Please. You’ll always be happy. I promise you.” He had held her hand in his large ones and pressed them reassuringly.

“Ok, I’ll see. Tell you later.” Sia replied.

Sia had given Steve’s proposal a second thought. She had been already rejected thrice in this regards. She had no idea what to make of this one. Will Steve e the right guy for her?

Sitting behind his desk table, Steve smiled to himself. He had a plan. He loved Sia and knew she was the girl he had always wanted.

Part 6

A week had passed. The there was an unexpected phone call. Sia’s mum was doing the dishes. She froze. Sia’s dad was vacuuming the house. He stopped. They ran to the wildly trembling receiver that echoed deafeningly in the air. Whatever happened next happened too quickly.

 

 

Standing outside the surgery ward with hands on their hearts, hearts beating furiously and lips muttering prayers for their dear child, Garry and Helena wondered how on earth help had arrived. They were uncertain; at the same time grateful to have grated this moment. Finally, to their utmost happiness, the double doors of the ward swung open and out wheeled the doctor Sia’s wheelchair with the smiling Sia looking straight are her parents.

They cried hard, tears of joy, hugged each other tightly and went home. Sia’s dad had enquired from the Doctor about the person whose eyes had been donated. The doctor didn’t seem to know much about it. He had said that he was an emergency surgeon that was called to do the surgery. Sia’s dad doubted him but didn’t make fuss. He took his family home to start a new life.

The next day, Sia went happily to Steve. She had liked him and now she was impatient to tell him what had happened. She would tell him that she loved him too. He would never need to worry about her being blind. Then they could live happily ever after. Sia skipped down the empty street. She didn’t want to see anyone but Steve. I wonder how he looks she thought.

The door opened and a tawny young teenager with ruffled hair answered the door.

“Is Steve here? Sia chirped. I want to see him.”

The boy looked at her acknowledging her beauty. “You came here before, didn’t you?”

“Yes. I did. I know Steve.”  Sia was impatient.

“You couldn’t see then.”

“Yeah, I know… but I’ve got doors eyes now.” Sia found it hard to believe that one day she thought she would be blind forever.

The boy nodded expressionless and guided her to Steve’s room, then left silently. Sia felt a sweet pain in her heart as she caught sight of the Charming Steve perched on his chair behind his desk. He was gorgeous. She could see it eve in the dim light.

“Hi, Steve, It’s Sia.” She chirped happily from the door.

 

Part 7

“Ah, Sia Come in. Please sit down.” Steve answered in his forever-lovely voice.

It was the best time of her life. Sia was about to reveal her love for Steve not until she sat opposite to Steve and a got a good look at him. He was perfect, she thought as her mood darkened. Really perfect, the most beautiful guy she had ever see. But he had no eyes!

“Were you always like that.” Sia blurted out but the regretting saying it, for she knew very well how painful it was to be deprived of eyes. But Steve replied I the same friendly manner.

 

“Nope, not always like that. Just yesterday. The there was silence. I love you very much. You know now. Will you marry me, Sia?”

It took a while before Sia could answer. Why on earth did she always face difficult choices? Couldn’t life ever be generous to her? She had enough of her glum days. And she had left them behind, forever.

“Um… no. Came out her reply. And Sia hated herself for rejecting Steve. I’m sorry, I can’t… you are...”

Steve broke in.  “It’s OK. If you don’t want to marry me, then don’t. Not a problem. Ut just take care of my eyes.” He flashed his charming smile which gave Sia what seemed like a heart attack.

And that was the last Sia saw of him.

 

 

Sia was heartbroken. Life had played a stupid game on her. First it had taken her eyes, and now her heart. He was an angelic guy. Sia loved him for his act of kindness. She despised herself for her selfishness but felt like she had no choice. Steve was still young- had a whole life ahead of him, yet he had donated his eyes to Sia. Why did she let go of him? Why did he leave his house forever? Why did he disappear?

“Come back. Come back, Steve.” Sia shouted to the sky, hands gripping her hair, heart heavy with grief as she cried tears of blood.