Short story: A dying eye for the blind

by Maulia Selvarajah

It was another windy day. I could hear the wind moan and beat against my room window. I slowly sat up on my bed, as I heard the door open, I could not be bothered to turn around. "Good morning Mr. Snow, did you sleep well" I was greeted by a nurse.

Her voice suggested that she was trying to hide her grouchiness through what was supposed to be a gentle tone. "No, I didn't." I replied. "I hate it here, my bed sheets smell of drugs, the pillows aren't soft, they're quite the opposite, I feel like I'm sleeping on rocks not a mattress and the rubbish you give me that you call food tastes like plastic!

The government gives you plenty of money, what do you all do with it? "There was a pause before the woman replied. I don't think she understood what I said. "I bet you're excited about moving rooms this morning. We'll get you to the second floor in a few minutes, Sir." She told me, before shutting the door, leaving me alone in silence.

New room

Within a few minutes the door opened again, and I was greeted by another nurse. "Good morning Sir, let's get you to your new room shall we?" It was a male nurse. He didn't give me the chance to answer.

He gripped my arms and shoved me into a wheelchair. "Does this room have clean sheets?" I asked him, as he wheeled me through the corridors and into the lift. He either didn't hear me or didn't intend on answering me. I remained silent through the remainder of the journey. It didn't take long; we arrived at the room within a few minutes. The nurse dropped me onto my new bed and left. "How rude! I shouted, hoping it would reach him.

Young woman

The voice belonged to a young woman, my first room mate. "No." I grunted back at her, she seemed too bubbly and happy for my liking. I lay down on the bed, feeling tired. Unfortunately, my new room mate didn't seem to realise that I didn't want to talk. "I've heard a lot about you, from the nurses.

Your name is John Snow isn't it?" She continued. "My name is Olivia Green. I've been told that you are the only person to have been moved so many times because of complaints from other patients!"

She giggled. "Are you always this annoying?" I asked her feeling annoyed. "I'm glad I amuse you. The nurses here really do know how to mind their own business don't they!" "You don't need to be so grumpy! There are a lot more people in the world who have life worse than you.

You haven't even been here as long as I have and you complain a lot more. At least you'll be getting new eyes soon, do you know how many people are blind" she announced.

Sight

"I frankly don't care." I interrupted her. "Surprisingly enough, my sight means a lot to me, and it's difficult to live without it, especially when I've spent my life using them!" After that, I spent the remainder of the day enjoying the silence of the room.

I was cheerfully awaken the next morning, making me realise that I had hoped was just a dream, turned out to be reality. Olivia gave me the impression that it would take a long time for me to become immune to her.

"It's a wonderful morning today John, a lot better than yesterday. We're lucky; this window has an amazing scenery, of the countryside." Olivia chirped. "Are you gloating? I asked her. It felt, to me, like she was deliberately trying to annoy me. "Of course not!" she squealed, sounding truly appalled at the question. "I thought it might be nice to describe the scenery, and help you to cheer up" I didn't say anything else, and let her tell me about the events outside the gloomy building. Although I had only spent a few weeks at the hospital, I couldn't remember anything about the journey here. My memory has never been good, but I believed the hospital to be in the suburbs as I have heard so many people talk about it. "There is a lovely park, with a lake.

Realise

As the days went by, I began to realise that they seemed to go past far more quickly with Olivia, than when I was alone. Olivia didn't annoy me as much as she had on our first meeting. I became more interested in the events that occurred through the window, than before.

It became part of our daily routine, very quickly. Each day, once we had finished our breakfast, Olivia would describe what she could see through her window and I would sit up quietly listening to each word she spoke.

We would then dwell onto other topics. We covered everything, from celebrity gossip, to problems around the world. At times she would ask me questions about my life, and I would do the same for her. As the days went by, I enjoyed Olivia's company and her festive moods.

We quickly bonded. I lost track of time when I was with Olivia. She quickly became one of the closest friends I have ever had. "You aren't as grumpy and 'Scrooge-like' as you were before, John" Olivia told me one morning.

Relief

I had to agree. To the nurses' relief I didn't complain as much about the food or anything else.

"There are more robbins and sparrows around the park now, and there have been more flowers planted" Olivia told me. "I remember walking across a bridge very similar to this one, when I was a little girl. I used to fly a kite across it." Olivia fascinated me with her childhood stories; she told me several stories about her mum and dad.

It seemed like she really loved them. She told me that she was an only child, and lived not too far away from the hospital. Her mum made the best pancakes. It made my heart float to think that a person could have so many happy thoughts. I was glad that it was she who had such beautiful thoughts.

One evening, a nurse walked in to greet us. "Well Mr. Snow, are you ready for your eye operation?" the nurse asked me. I had been talking to Olivia about this day, for a long time. I was thrilled to know that it had finally arrived. I nodded to the nurse, as she slowly helped me into the wheel chair.

"Olivia, by tomorrow, I'll finally get to see you!" I said grinning. "I can't wait" she replied. The nurse slowly wheeled me away. I could feel my heart thumbing, so loudly that I was surprised that no one else noticed. Once the surgery was over, I was taken into a different room.

The nurse told me that it would be easier if I was nearby the surgery room, as I would have to go back tomorrow. I was left alone. I could not see yet. Although the operation was a success, I had to wait another day until I could cut of the bandages. Another day until I could see once again.

Emergency

I did not sleep well that night, it was due partially to the over excitement of gaining my sight again, but also because there seemed to be an emergency in the middle of the night. I didn't know exactly what. I woke up that night suddenly, to hear several feet running across the corridors, and talking loudly to one another.

Due to my sleepiness, I couldn't make out all of the words but I had gained the impression that one of the long term patient had gone into a sudden attack.

The next morning, I was greeted by a nurse. My body was shaking with joy and excitement, at the thought of finally seeing. Once I had finished my breakfast, I sat down in the wheelchair, and fidgeted aimlessly, as the nurse took me back to the surgery room.

Blinked

I blinked a few times once the nurse had taken of all the bandages. I blinked quickly and starred blankly at what looked like a painting on a wall, waiting for my eyes to gain focus once again. I looked around and smiled.

After a few quickly tests from the nurse to make sure I saw clearly, I was taken back into my room. As I entered, I looked around at the two empty beds. "Nurse, where's Olivia?" I asked turning around to look at the short woman. Her smile faded. "Don't you know?" she asked looking at my confused face. "I'm sorry Mr. Snow but Olivia died yesterday night. She had a sudden heart failure, and passed away.

It was completely unexpected, the doctors couldn't do anything. She was such a beautiful young lady. Only twenty years old. It's better that she died now." I was speechless. My heart sank. Questions flew around in my mind, as my eyes filled with tears. "Why? what went wrong?" I asked.

"Olivia has been one of our long term patient, always polite and caring. One day she came into the hospital beaten. Her stepfather was an alcoholic. He beat her frequently. It was her neighbour, who found her, on the floor and brought her in.

She was in a terrible state. It was too late to do much, I'm afraid she was paralysed below her neck. She had an injured lung and heart, so the doctors knew she would die soon. At least she didn't have to suffer any more" the nurse gently put her arm on my shoulder.

Shocked and amazed

I was both shocked and amazed. Everything seemed so empty without her. I looked around in search of the window that my days revolved around, the window that she had told me so much about.

There was no such window. The walls of the room were plain, as if they had always been that way. "Where's the window that Olivia used to tell me about?" I asked the nurse. She gave me a puzzled look in reply. "But that can't be."

The nurse whispered. "You see Mr. Snow, there has never been any windows in this room, and besides even if there had been Olivia could not have told you about it" "What! But she told me in great detail, about the park and the birds. Why?" I asked.

"Mr. Snow, Olivia was born blind." The nurse answered. My eyes overfilled with tears, as I sat on her bed. During all of our long conversations, she had never thought of telling me about her true past and her physical state.

She had created such strong images in my mind, and had told me stories about herself which all seemed so true and believable. I could never have believed that she was blind.

At first I didn't understand why she should tell me such lies, but after sitting quietly for a while I realised that if she had told me the truth, I would not have been the happy man that I am today.

Olivia's imagination had helped me to get through the difficult times in the hospital, she had cheered me up, and helped me conquer the thoughts of being blind.

Her descriptive words had painted me a beautiful scenery that I had never thought of seeing again. She held the key that unlocked the doors to my imagination. She helped me to blossom into happy person; she helped me to change, and realise my wrong doings. For this I am ever grateful.