A Blind Date

Rosie knew her job, without question when it came to me. She

loved unconditionally, but her goal was to protect and keep me safe in a

world full of dangers. She would sacrifice her life if mine was in

jeopardy. As she carefully and cautiously maneuvered the busy city

sidewalk, she came to a sudden stop. She pulled back on her harness. I

knew there was some danger so I abruptly stopped. We had reached the

corner of the street and the light was red. When the light turned green,

we carefully walked across the street with Rosie in the lead.

For Rosie, I was her life and she was mine. I immediately knew

how special she was when she became my eyes-my seeing-eye dog -

months after my accident. We took to each other like two lost friends

finding each other after several years.

I remember those dark days after the accident. A drunk driver

ran a stoplight and struck my bike with such force that the impact threw

me into the air. When I landed, my head hit the concrete. All I remember

was waking up in the hospital -Blind. Life became a living nightmare. I

didn’t want to do anything that resembled living. Didn’t want to get out

of bed, bathe, eat, see people, or hear their platitudes. There was no

reason to try. All that I was before was gone, and never coming back.

Maybe death should have taken me. No one knew the pain and anger I

felt. I pushed people away. But lying there and feeling sorry for what life

had taken from me, I heard a voice. It whispered,” You are a coward if

you see death as your only alternative. If you give up, what have you

proven? It takes inner courage to move beyond and see what life

holds in store for you on this new journey.” At that point, I decided I’d

rather be blind than crazy, since I was hearing voices.

Learning how to maneuver in a sighted world, that I was no

longer privy to left me angry and frustrated. But I refused to give in or

wallow in my self-pity. So I fought on-therapy, seeing-eye training,

learning Braille to read and write. Rosie became my eyes and my life-line

in the seeing world.

After two years I decided to go on a “blind date”. We met on

Facebook and seemed to hit it off. The only problem was she didn’t know

I was blind. I’m hoping the reality of the situation doesn’t scare her

away, but if it does, then maybe she isn’t the right one for me.

I arrived at the restaurant a bit early and Rosie sat at my feet

under the table. My nerves were getting the better of me and I thought

maybe I should leave before she gets here. Suddenly, I heard a voice

ask,” Carlos?”. My throat was so parched I just managed to squeak out,

“YESSSS”. She shook my hand and sat down. I could tell from the sound

made by the movement of the chair. I was waiting for the other shoe to

drop. The sound of her running out of the restaurant saying, “Sorry,

Sorry, Sorry…”. But she didn’t.

We started talking and one thing led to another when the

waiter placed the Menu in front of me and waited for our order. After a

few minutes we both started to laugh, to the embarrassment of the

waiter. She asked if I would like her to order and proceeded to read the

specials. After reading the specials she asked, “What would you like to

drink?”. I thought about it for a few seconds and replied,” Since tonight

is special, how about two glasses of Merlot?” She laughed and replied,

“Great choice!”.

Three hours later, after a delicious meal and amazing wine, it

was time to leave. Before paying the bill with my credit card, a gnawing

question kept eating at my mind. I had to ask no matter the

consequences. I knew first hand the lies and deceptions people used when

they found out I was blind. I wanted the truth, so I asked the question,

“Ester, why aren't you repulsed by my blindness, instead of being cool

and like it doesn’t matter?”. I heard her sigh and braced myself for what

was to come, the silence deafening. Then she spoke softly,” Carlos, when

I was 11 years old I lost my sight due to infections of the corneas. Family

and friends treated me like a leper. They didn’t speak to me or invite me

to parties. I spent many long isolated hours in my room. To them, I was a

fragile human in a sighted world. One day, a young man was killed in a

car accident. He was a total stranger to me, but I discovered he was an

organ donor. Through some miracle, his corneas were transplanted into

my eyes. Within weeks I was able to see again. I vowed never to be like

any of the people who surrounded me - insensitive, uncaring and

intolerable of the blind”.

I didn’t know what to say. Rosie walked both of us to the door of

the restaurant. At the door, she turned and thanked me for a wonderful

evening and hoped it wasn’t the last. I hugged her and whispered, “You

are truly a remarkable person”. Her reply, “No Carlos, you are”.

My heart was pounding in my chest as I turned to walk two

block to my apartment. But at that moment, I realized that in the

darkness there is hope if you let it in and compassion and understanding

will follow.