Here follows my offering in response to the Writer's Island theme of 'The Blind Side'
THE BLIND SIDE
We were sitting in the park that summers evening, I remember; perhaps the sun was even gradually beginning to sink below the treetops, for time was getting on. Suddenly breaking off a constant stream of chatter, my friend turned to me and asked the Question.
"How long have you been blind?"
I stared at her blankly, both seeing and saying nothing. It seemed obscene - I've never thought of myself as being blind... the wind stirred the leaves around me quietly, and I tried to think of a suitable reply.
"I don't know... maybe, seven years? I can't say anything more definitely sorry."
But I can still see the light. I think I'll always be able to see the light... It means so much to me. The only way I can see the shape of a person is if they're standing in front of a window, blocking out the light - I see them as a negative, an absence of light.
As I lost my sight, my other senses sharpened. For a few years now I've tried to teach myself the art of telling the colour of a flower by its smell, there is definitely an art to it which I'm still learning! But as long as I can still see the light glowing around the edges of the day, I'll still watch and imagine... for there, in my imagination, colours and dreams exist. Thank you.
- Nicola Batty
- I am a writer of novels, plays and film scripts. I live in Manchester England with my partner Andy and our teenage son Jack. Andy and I started my Newsletter Raw Meat and began publishing with Rawprintz in 1999 to showcase my work. Some of you may be confused by my continual references to Ziggy, that’s my wheelchair! Both Andy and I are writers. I’ve recently lost my sight – hence the continual reference to my being confused! Thanks for visiting.
This is a very touching story, told beautifully and without self pity. I felt your last sentence was a poem in itself:
ReplyDelete"But as long as I can still see the light glowing around the edges of the day, I'll still watch and imagine... for there, in my imagination, colours and dreams exist."
Great post Nic, don't lose sight of your dreams...
ReplyDeleteI find that 'negative, ...absence of light' characteristic apparent in a lot of people.
thanks for this Nicola...beautiful indeed...thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteHi Nicola -- I have a friend who has retinitis pigmatosa, and she's a gardener...she swears she is learning the colors of her flowers by the smell...thank you for this...beautiful.
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I love the idea of telling the color of a flower by its smell. Thank you for sharing a piece of your story. I'm happy I found your blog. Nice work!
ReplyDeleteyou have a beautiful spirit and your light shines in this post. I definitely think white smells like gardenia, which I know is backwards but I will always think about this post now when the gardenias bloom.
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