Janice’s heart pounded every time she received a message from Colin. Every conversation felt so natural, so real. She could almost picture them sitting across from each other, laughing over coffee, exchanging thoughts about books and life. But one truth loomed over her like a shadow: she was blind.
As their first date drew near, fear wrapped around her chest like a tight band. How long could she keep her secret before Colin realized the world she navigated was different from his?
The dim glow of Janice’s computer screen cast soft shadows across the room. She sat at her desk, fingers lightly resting on the keyboard, her heart fluttering as the robotic voice of her screen reader filled the silence.
“Message from Colin: I love that author. One winter, I read nearly ten of his books. ‘Love is War’ is my favorite. What about you?”
A small laugh escaped Janice as she listened. She could almost hear the excitement in his voice, though she’d never heard him speak before. Her fingers brushed over the keyboard, finding the right key to respond.
“Dictate a message,” the voice prompted.
“Good choice,” Janice said, her tone warm.
“I might’ve picked that one too, but I really loved ‘The Princess’s Favorite.’ I remember bawling at the ending and couldn’t stop for hours.”
“End message. Send.”
As the message went through, a familiar warmth spread through her. Talking to Colin had become the highlight of her days. They had met online a few weeks ago, and from their very first message, something had clicked.
They bonded over books, sharing their favorite stories and passages late into the night. But it wasn’t just about literature—they talked about dreams, fears, and even silly things, like their favorite pizza toppings.
Yet, there was one thing she hadn’t told him.
Twice now, Colin had asked to meet in person. Each time, she hesitated, making up excuses—work, errands, being too busy. The truth was simpler but much harder to explain: she wasn’t ready to tell him she was blind.
As if the universe had heard her thoughts, her screen reader chimed again.
“Message from Colin: Wait, you listen to books? You love audiobooks? That’s interesting—I just can’t get into them. I need to hold the book, feel the pages, smell the paper. That’s how I really enjoy a story. Don’t you feel the same?”
Janice’s smile faltered. His words sank in like stones, reminding her of all the things she couldn’t do, of the ways her world was different from his.
“Dictate a message,” the computer prompted.
She took a shaky breath. “Colin, I have to confess,” she began, her voice trembling. “I’m blind. I can’t read regular books, so I rely on audiobooks.”
The words hung in the air, heavy and raw. Her chest tightened. What if this changed everything? What if he saw her differently after this?
“Delete message,” she said quickly, panic gripping her.
“Message deleted. Dictate a message,” the voice repeated.
Janice swallowed hard. “I just love listening to books while multitasking,” she said instead, keeping her tone casual.
“End message. Send.”
She leaned back in her chair, pressing her palms to her face. She couldn’t keep hiding this forever. But how could she tell him? She hadn’t felt this kind of connection with anyone in years, and the thought of him walking away because of this truth was unbearable.
Another chime broke the silence.
“Message from Colin: You keep surprising me. Hey, I have tickets to a movie premiere this weekend. Want to come with me?”
Janice’s breath caught. Her fingers hovered over the keyboard, trembling slightly.
This was it. She couldn’t keep avoiding him. But the fear was still there, lurking in the back of her mind.
“Yes, I’d love to,” she finally typed. The message sent, and she sat back with a mix of excitement and dread.
The day of the date arrived, and Janice knew she had to prepare. The movie theater was inside a large mall, a place she had never been before. She arrived two hours early, gripping her white cane tightly. The air buzzed with the chatter of shoppers, the beeping of registers, the hum of escalators. Everything was unfamiliar.
She approached a security guard near the entrance, forcing herself to sound confident. “Excuse me,” she said. “Could you help me find the theater? I want to practice the route before I meet someone.”
The older man nodded kindly. “Of course. Let me walk you there.”
As he guided her through the mall, she repeated his directions under her breath, committing them to memory. After the second trip, she felt ready. The nerves in her stomach, however, refused to settle.
When the meeting time came, Janice stood outside, her sunglasses on, her cane discreetly tucked into her bag. She heard approaching footsteps.
“Janice?” A warm, friendly voice called.
“Colin!” she said brightly, feigning excitement while panic twisted inside her. She stepped forward, opening her arms for a hug. Relief flooded her when he embraced her in return.
“It’s so great to finally meet you,” he said. Then he hesitated. “But… sunglasses? On a cloudy day?”
“Oh,” she said quickly, scrambling for an excuse. “My eyes are really sensitive to light. I wear them all the time. I hope that’s okay.”
“Not a problem at all,” Colin replied, brushing it off easily. His acceptance eased her nerves, but only slightly.
As they walked inside, she silently counted her steps. Everything was going fine—until they reached the escalator. She hesitated, her foot hovering uncertainly above the floor.
“Wait!” she blurted, panic seeping into her voice.
“What’s wrong?” Colin asked, concerned.
“Uh, I just feel a little dizzy,” she lied. “Could you help me get to the cinema?”
“Of course,” he said, slipping his arm around hers. His warmth steadied her, but guilt weighed heavily on her chest.
Finally, they reached the theater. Janice settled into her seat, exhaling in relief. But the movie was a challenge. She struggled to follow the action through sound alone.
“Isn’t that shot amazing?” Colin whispered. “See how they angled the camera?”
“Yeah, it’s… stunning,” she mumbled.
“What stands out to you most in this scene?” he asked eagerly.
“Uh… I’m not sure. Hard to say.”
“Don’t think too hard. Just say the first thing that comes to mind.”
“Colin,” she whispered, trying to keep calm. “Let’s talk after the movie, okay?”
When the credits rolled, Colin turned to her with a smile. “So, what did you think?”
“It was good,” she said carefully. “Lots of beautiful visuals.”
“Especially when the protagonist escaped the basement—remember that part?”
“Oh, yeah,” she said quickly. “That was intense.”
“And when he made it onto the boat?”
“Right, the boat,” she echoed.
Colin’s tone turned sharp. “There wasn’t a boat, Janice. Why are you lying?”
Her stomach dropped.
“Colin, I—”
“I thought what we had was real,” he interrupted. “But now… I don’t even know if you’re interested in me.”
He walked away, leaving her heartbroken.
“Colin!” she called desperately, stumbling after him.
“Do you need help, ma’am?” a kind voice asked.
“Yes,” she whispered, her voice breaking. “I’m looking for the man I came in with. His name is Colin.”
“Can you describe him?”
Janice hesitated. “I… I can’t. I don’t know what he looks like. I’m blind.”
Then, a familiar voice spoke beside her.
“You’re blind, aren’t you?”
She froze. “Yes.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I was scared,” she admitted. “I didn’t want to lose you.”
Colin exhaled. “You wouldn’t have. But lying? That almost did.”
“I’m sorry. Can we start over?”
Colin smiled softly. “No more secrets.”
“Deal.”
