Love is Patient; Love is Blind

Part 1

Growing up and not knowing exactly what I was missing out on was much easier. Each day as I woke up, I'd open my eyes. Seeing nothing in that moment made me blissfully unaware of the world whose eyes were always open and never closed out of fear of missing a beat. Almost how New York City is, "The city that never sleeps," the world strains its vision to focus on those it feels fit to focus on.

As a blind 20 year old college sophomore, it was quite challenging to adapt to university life. In high school, I had the option of an IEP to help counsel me towards my graduation. But when I applied for Ohio State, they denied my request for additional assistance with my classes and tuition. Instead, they offered me a classmate to help walk me around to my classes and make sure I made it back to my dorm safely.

Occasionally, he wouldn't show up until half-an-hour after my class was dismissed. He said he was busy with another student and didn't have time to walk me around the whole campus. He wasn't wrong, the campus was huge and my dorm is a 15 minute walk at least from my last class of the day. He sounded like such a gentleman when I was first introduced to him by the university's Principle. He's a twenty-something year old college junior with a major of adolescent psychology. Yet when he talks to me, he has no respect for me or my personal fight with depression and social anxiety.

When Principle Brown had introduced me as a disabled student who needed assistance in finding my way through the whole campus, he scoffed under his breath. And even though I can't see, he probably rolled his eyes. He finally agreed, huffed and puffed his way out of the office, and slammed the door shut.

"I'm extremely disappointed in his behavior and I do apologize for his attitude, Alexandria. He usually is nothing like this." He said.

I could hear him open a drawer from his desk and I assumed he was filing some paperwork.

"Would you like for me to step out?" I asked quietly.

"Not yet, Miss. Smith. I have a map for you." He immediately gasped as he noticed what had come out of his mouth.

"I am so terribly sorry! I guess I had gotten into the routine of handing out maps to students and I.." He put his head in his hands.

"Sir, it's completely fine. It happens more often than you would think." I laughed and smiled. And even though I am completely blind, I could still hear the frown of disappointment in the way he apologized.

I heard him stand up from his chair and I attempted to stand up on my own and succeeded. I reached out to shake his hand as he welcomed me to the Ohio State University.