The Bright Side of Darkness

Two

People here act as if being blind means I've gone deaf as well. Truth is, I can hear all the whispers and rumors that float through the halls. It doesn't help that I walked smack-dab into the fucking doorway of the office as soon as I entered the school. I thought I had memorized the steps but apparently, I was wrong.

This should have been my defining year. I was going to be a senior football player on his way to bigger things. Football was my life and my ticket out of this town. It was all I cared about pursuing since my dad took me to my first game as a kid. Now, I'm not a horrible student or anything, but football is what I'm great at - was great at. I had plans of going pro. Of being the first athlete from Norton Valley to become an NFL player.

Now, all those dreams are gone. Just like that. Because of one stupid mistake, everything I ever cared for was taken from me.All I want to do today is stay home, eat junk food, and listen to the TV. But Mom and dad insisted that I come to school even though it's the last thing I want. I can't play football, and that means I can't even pretend that everything is fine. Even if I could, it would be a lie. I don't need everyone to know that.

On top of that, Jackson is now almost attached to my hip everywhere I go. He's taken it upon himself to help me walk down the halls and keep people from bothering me. As grateful as I am for his help, all he's been able to do is get on my nerves. Which isn't fair, considering he's only trying to be a good friend. I just want to stop and take time to process everything, but the rest of my life moves on, mocking me. Reminding me of everything I've lost.

At least my friends have stuck around, unlike my ex. But that doesn't bother me anymore. Right now, my biggest concern is whether I want to go to class or not. Standing on the precipice of the beginning of a whole different high school experience, I falter. I can't force my feet to move.

"You just gonna stand there glaring at that door, or are you gonna go in?" Travis approaches me and wraps an arm around my shoulders. "I know you can see shadows, man, so don't pretend you don't know where you are."

"Technically, I have no clue where I am. I just know I'm in front of a classroom full of people waiting for me to walk into something again." I pause to shrug his arm off. "And they're not shadows. They're little flashes of whatever when something specific passes by me. I'm still completely blind."

I narrow my eyes at where I assume the door is and take a deep breath. It's as if my eyes are still trying, despite the prognosis telling me otherwise. But if Jackson hadn't led me here, I never would have found my way, even with the training I underwent to better understand my position and my surroundings. "Besides, I can just tell them I got turned around, and since I'm blind, they won't question it."

"That excuse will only last so long, Tay. It's better to not wear it out so soon. They'll just hire you an actual guide or something. Someone who's not Jackson - who's not already your friend." Travis sighs, lacing his arm through mine. This close, I can smell his cologne. Since I can't see anymore, my other senses have gotten stronger, and now the once faint smell radiating from him is almost pungent.