“Audin, honey? How are you feeling? Wait here and I’ll go get the doctor,” she said, before her footsteps receded into the darkness.
I was then told by the doctors that my eyes would have to be bandaged for a week before they could unwrap them.
Soon, the day arrived. I opened my eyes and for the first time, I saw something that wasn’t just black. The blurry moving shapes started to take form. I saw something before me.
“Audin, honey. It’s me, Ma. Can you see me? Are you okay?
“Do you feel any pain? Do your eyes hurt? Does your head hurt?” came the barrage of questions.
“Ma??” I asked as I reached out to grab her hand and stare at it.
“Yes, it’s me, honey,” she said, looking at me.
After a few days, I was allowed to go home. I was told that my vision would be blurry for a while but would progressively improve. I was instructed to wear dark glasses for a few weeks.
“We’re home!” Ma announced.
I got out of the car and looked at my house. The crusty paint on the walls. The potted plants lined up against the sides of the house, welcoming everyone who entered. The bright sun shining perfectly on the horizon.
It was all so beautiful.
Over the next few days, I was showered with attention like a new-born baby coming home for the first time. Living in an Asian household, you become used to the fact that if you get well, you will be visited by relatives from all corners of the country. I found myself surrounded by relatives, some I knew, and others I had never met or heard of before. Soon, it all became too much.
All I wanted was to get out of the house and explore the world that I never got to enjoy. Instead, I was made to sit down and smile and nod, as our house filled with a stream of people waiting to see this “miracle”. What made the visits unbearable was the repetition of the questions everyone asked.
After two months of relatives, I had had enough. I couldn’t stay confined within those four walls any longer.
“Ma, please, just for today. I won’t go far. I’ll be near home, and I’ll have my phone with me at all times. I can call you if I need help. Please,” I pleaded.
“No, Audin. I already said no. What if you get lost? The doctors already said that your vision will be blurry for a while. What happens if you’re crossing the road and can’t see a car passing by? I will not allow it,” Ma barked, getting increasingly agitated.
“Ma, I could trip on the staircase and hurt myself too, if I were careless. Come on, Ma. Just one day,” I continuously begged, refusing to give up. I kept pleading, reminding her that she had taught me to read words and signs visually.
“Fine, fine. Just for today. Such a stubborn boy,” she conceded, annoyed.
I turned and walked out of the study, not wanting her to see the glee on my face. I didn’t want Ma to worry about me. Inside, I was doing cartwheels and dancing.
I quickly dashed out of the house and headed onto the rocky pavement and crossed the street. I didn’t even have to think about where I was headed. It was the Seri Wawasan Bridge.
I had always loved going to the park near the bridge ever since I was young. We lived at the adjacent apartments and often walked over in the evenings. I would hear the happy people on their walks and some birds and insects in the trees. I would also feel the cool breeze against my skin. I promised myself that if I could ever see, that’s what I wanted to see.
This time, I walked a bit farther, venturing onto the walkway of the bridge. A light breeze kissed my cheeks and teased my hair. I adjusted my sunglasses as I surveyed the world around me. It felt like heaven. I watched as people stood, admiring the view, while some walked up and down, enjoying the breeze, and a few took photos. One thing everyone had in common was the beautiful smiles on their faces.
Smiling, I glanced into the distance. There, I saw a lone figure. A girl. Some were running towards her. Some were shouting. I squinted to see what was going on. My smile faded when I saw her fall into the lake. Before I could react, there was a scream.
She had jumped.
Editor’s note: This is an excerpt from ‘Fresh Eyes’ by Davina Sanjna. It is part of a series of short stories – The Eye: A Young Writer’s Anthology. Priced at RM31.90, the book is available at BookXcess. All royalties go to Yayasan Chow Kit, a non-profit organisation serving the needs of children and teens in the Chow Kit area of Kuala Lumpur.
To give the younger generation an avenue to express themselves, Twentytwo13 has a dedicated space called Young Voices. If you are a young writer (aged 17 and below) and would like your article published on our news website, send your contribution to editor@twentytwo13.my.
All articles must be accompanied by the young writer’s full name, MyKad number, contact number, and the mobile number of the young writer’s parents/guardians for verification purposes.
This is the personal opinion of the writer and does not necessarily represent the views of Twentytwo13.
