Lights off

They said that “Beauty lies in the eye of the beholder” and eyes are the greatest reflection of our lives but in my case it is not.

               I am natural inborn blind and my family didn’t supported my operation because of poverty back then when i was a child but when i finally succeeded to get a chance to reach my dreams now i have the possibilities of seeking a donor for my operation.

               One day, i walked alone along a lonely highway with my cape listened to the purr of the engines nearby. It was a hot morning and the humidity made you feel like you were breathing bathwater, and my shirt stuck to my skin like it was painted there. When i came to the intersection i encountered a man and he caught my attention, i slip towards a beggar begging for alms and i almost stumbled beside him and heard his voice.

               “Begging for alms!!!!!!’ I heard the crackling and shaking of the voice but i smelled something fishy like a smouldering ash….burning coal but not for sure with those odour’s. I checked for my coins and then i gave him half of my coins, it crinkling inside a tin can and he thanked me for what I’ve done.

               “What do you want me to give you to reciprocate your kindness.” He offered me with all sincerities.

               “What? Haha oh!!! It’s nothing just buy some foods to fed you up.” I was about to leave when he reached my hands forcing me to a halt.

               “Anything????????” he pleaded.

               I’m shocked and return to him and for some minutes he never let go of me.

               “Hey!!! You cannot give me something. I need a bigger thing…something larger than life and it’s impossible for someone to give it to me.” I cannot believe myself explaining those words with a beggar.

               “And what is that?”

               “Well!!!!! I don’t think I have a choice so i tell him the whole truth.”

               “I need eyes to see……….

               “Ohhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! His voices low and he let go my hands.

               “I’m sorry man, thank you for your kindness and…….

               “What if someone will offer it to you for exchange of your soul?” his voice are different and i heard hollow voice came from underground like something creepy behind those words and i feel sudden thump inside my heart.

               “What do you mean?” I laughed out loud, thinking of those stupid words. I guess he is a crazy man.

               He answered in a low voice.

               “Like someone will offer you his/her eyes for exchange of your soul. Do you want to take it or leave it?”

               Then i caught myself wondering….

What am I afraid of? I said to myself. This guy is just a street beggar. Feel bad for him, sure, but don’t fear him.

I feel sorry for him, but then i tried to be calm and careful for the words because it might hurt his feelings.

“Well I guess…..whatever it takes I’ll accept the offer. Haha” and then suddenly the temperature rise up and i feel that the sun disappeared behind a cloud, casting a shadow all over the city.

I turned to go, but before I go too far, he talks to me.

“You’re wish is my command.” He said, his voice making me feel cold. It was such a weird thing to say, I laughed nervously and he followed it with a gritted teeth until i feel the sun returned to its normal glare and the humidity comes into life.

I reached over the cape and started to talk.

“I guess it’s time to say goodbye…… hello!!!!!Hello man!!!!! I walked back with my cape, silence echoed the street and the man disappeared and for the slightest instant, I had a strange feeling that the man was something in the corner of my imagination or maybe he’s doing a prank but something tumbled down across my hair over my shoulder. I shook off the feeling and walked away pretending that nothing happened that day.

One morning i groan and woke up with a lot of energy but it was different when i open up my eyes. I’d experienced strange things in my life, and heard of things stranger still, but nothing could prepare me for what happened to my situation that day. I saw for the first time in my life how bright the sunshine in my window, the softness of my pillows, the freshness of the colour of my bedroom. I blink and close again my eyes but then when I open it up, i can see the beauty of my house. I can see now, and everything was too perfect. Even though i didn’t believe with miracles it seems that God gave me a chance to live with my eyes and there’s no need for operation but that moment was so good that something had to be wrong. Kind of like the way a fish sees that bright, shiny lure just before it chomps down and get hauled out of the water to become someone’s lunch.

I think about my past routine and something bang in my head.

“The beggar in the street.” As i thought but i wasn’t sure with my hunch because it gave me a creepy feeling when i recalled his last provocation.

“Like someone will offer you his/her eyes for exchange of your soul. Do you want to take it or leave it?”

Then out of nothing, i agreed with him without knowing the consequences.

“You’re wish is my command.” He said

Am i nuts for having this hallucination? What if it is true and he granted my wish? Do i really sell my soul into a devil? Then he can take way my life…..That was just silly assumption but what if there’s a powerful superhuman entity ruin my sanity and take away my life in a few minutes for exchange of my soul? Those thoughts collided and fighting out of my mind so before i lose my sanity I’ve decided to drive along that street to seek for the beggar to end this misery.

I started the car, as the engine comes into life with an uproar beat for a few seconds; i headed across town toward Mckinley Boulevard, where there a lot of sidewalks and the beggars lived. I couldn’t get the thought of the man out of my mind. He was something- unnatural and I’m pretty scared of his action that day. It makes me believe that Death awaits me from offering eyes to see.

It was hot day. I could see steam from the morning’s rain rising from the asphalt. The humidity comes into flame and my whole shirt is getting wet. I was still thinking about the beggar when I came to the intersection of Aldrich and Anderson- one of the busiest sidewalks, with a traffic light that took too long when I glance for something in the corner of my eyes. I saw a beggar with burning red eyes and he stared at me like I’m dead, shadows devour his whole body as i blink he’s gone in that direction.

               “Does that man got supernatural powers and he give me an eyes to see? Or he gave me an eyes to reciprocate for something, exchange for something unthinkable?”