The blind man

'It would be good for you,' she said. 'You need exercise,' she said. 'It'd be good for your heart and mind,'

Yeah right.

Everyone knows that people have been going missing down that path now. She just wants me gone. She can't take care of the poor old blind Japanese man.

Of course she couldn't! My lazy sister just wants my money!

Too bad I have to deal with her cause no one else wants to deal with me. She dragged me to America and forced me to learn the damn language!

That damn woman!

Why did mom make me go with her? Why couldn't I just stay with her?

Using my can, I felt the path before me.

It'd be a good thing if I go missing, then I won't have to deal with her.

An awful stench was blown in my face.

Ew! That smelled horrible!

I heard something approach me. Or did I? I don't know. I didn't say anything till I heard the most beautiful male voice I ever heard.

"You didn't scream?"

"Now, why would I scream?"

Then I realized, he was speaking Japanese. Maybe he got lost in the woods and is covered in dirt so people can't understand him and are terrified and run away. That's why he smells so bad.

"You didn't scream..." the man said in wander.

"Of course I didn't. I'm Daichi. Who are you?"

"Sukino," the man responded.

"Can't you see?" The man questioned.

"Ha! Haven't been able to see since I was 10!"

When I was ten I accidentally got acid in my eyes when I was being forced to work in a factory. It hurt like hell. I didn't even get any money to pay for the medical bill! I should of sued them!

"Oh my... poor creature," the man sounded sad.

Hmm... what a curious vocabulary this man has. I wonder if this man is a beautiful as he sounds. If only I could see. If I could see I would be able to do so many things.

I could read. I could write. I could watch the sun rise and set. I could see my sister and mother. If only I could see!

As if sensing my feelings, the man asked, "would you like to talk more?"

The man helped guide me to a cave. He told me when to watch my step when my cane missed a rock or a root sticking up or a small ledge. He showed me the right direction by placing his hand on my back and stirring me. He had bony hands.

When we reached the cave he sat me down on what felt like a moss covered log. A cat jumped on my lap and I petted it. It was still damp from a wash it had not to long ago.

Soon, after we talked for a while, I heard footsteps approaching the cave. Then I heard Sukino give a warm greeting to someone named Alex.

Strange, there was another set of footsteps but Sukino didn't greet them.

"Hello there," I offered in Japanese.

"Sukino you found someone else that speaks Japanese! That's great!" A young male voice happily stated.

Still nothing from the other set of footsteps.

Then, in English, I heard a whisper from a young girl, "who's that?"

"Ah, I'm Daichi, nice to meet you," I said in English.

"Oh, I'm Alex and this is Jessie. Jessie here can't speak Japanese but she still comes with me to visit Sukino," Alex explained in English.

"Alex, Daichi is blind," Sukino told Alex.

"That's what I thought," Alex responded.

We talked throughout the night. I explained to them how I become blind, in English so everyone could understand, even though I'm not that great at English.

Eventually, Alex helped me back to the path. We walked down till we reached the parking lot. Of course my sister wasn't there. Alex and Jessie gave me a ride home.

Surprisingly, when I walked through the door I heard my sister sobbing. She sobbed things about how it was her fault. They probably think I'm missing.

As I walked into the living room, she stopped crying. Instead she screamed at me.

"You! It's your fault! It's your fault he's gone!"

"Wh-what do you mean?!"

"If I didn't have to drop you off at the path my husband would still be alive!"

A ice cold chill ran through me. Tom? Tom was dead? Before I knew it I was crying.

She kicked me out. My own sister. Who kicks out a blind man? I walked along the road till I heard my name be called.

Alex had just rode by. He offered for me to stay at his house for the night and I gratefully accepted. On the way to Alex's, he explained how he had to drop off Jessie and he actually passed by his house every night after he dropped Jessie off. He talked an awfully lot about Jessie.

Well what do I expect from a teenage boy?