A Short Story

...So she removed his glasses and he looked over the edge for the first time and saw a beautiful world of vibrant colors. His weary eyes had never beheld such things, and with such clarity. The sun had never shone in those tired eyes, he never knew that they were capable of seeing such light. "I am eternally grateful to you for making me see!!" he cried. She kissed his eyes and felt truly happy for the boy. Then suddenly, terror came across his face. He reached far behind him to grab the glasses. "What's wrong? Why do you reach for those when you are now able to see?" she asked with confusion in her face. "I'm so sorry," the boy replied, "This is all so beautiful and wonderful, but dear lady, I am no good at this task. And I miss the comfort the dark brings." And so, with her shoulders rolled forward and head held low, she walked away, confused, saddened, and disappointed that the boy couldn't appreciate the light he had been shown. She had brought the light with her and placed it gently back into it's box where she locked it and threw the key into a raging river that ran beside where she walked. "Never again will I share this with eyes that can't see," she thought to herself. She took several steps forward but remained where she was standing. No matter how many steps she took, she remained there, with the boy still within speaking distance. Using her bare hands, she began to claw at the earth beneath her. She dug and dug. Her hands did not tire and she was determined to claw her way far enough beneath the earth where the boy could no longer see her, for she was now somewhat ashamed of the light she carried. Finally, after what must have been days she thought, she had found her way to where she could no longer see the sun above her head. She felt the calm of being alone in the cool, damp earth. Just her, the soil, and the box. It was then that she realized there was no way for her to climb back out, yet she wasn't frightened, only tired, so tired. She lay her head over and let the comfort of quiet stillness pass over her and her eyes drifted close. And at that moment she thought of the boy and how now they were both in the darkness, together. And she smiled.
-ABH-