Harold’s words didn’t just move the talk show audience they captivated the entire cafeteria. Staff members who had been quietly eating now leaned in, nodding in admiration.
"He’s handsome, hardworking and so devoted to his girlfriend," one of them sighed.
"A man like that is worth chasing."
I felt my stomach churn violently, a sickening wave of nausea rising. But no matter how much I wanted to purge this bitterness, it stayed lodged inside me, poisoning me from within.
Harold’s carefully crafted performance had achieved three things at once he gracefully rejected Cassandra, strengthened his image as a devoted lover and ensured that I would never dare to return.
Truly a masterstroke.
For twenty years, I had believed Harold’s kindness was real. But now, I saw the truth he had been acting all along.
I met him in an orphanage. The other children bullied me because I was mute, knowing I couldn’t complain. They stole food right off my plate, laughing as I watched helplessly. But Harold who was blind always reached into his bowl and quietly placed half of his food into mine.
That young boy wasn’t spared from torment either. Some of the children found amusement in tripping him, shoving him, kicking him just to hear him stumble. Whenever that happened, I would launch myself at them like an enraged lion, fighting tooth and nail to protect them.
We clung to each other, two abandoned souls, keeping each other warm in a world that had no place for us. I was his eyes. He was my voice.
One by one, the healthier children were adopted, leaving Harold and me behind. No one wanted damaged goods. But we had each other. Everything felt good even though it was hard.
As we grew older, love bloomed between us. I believed we would spend the rest of our lives together, that one day, we would marry.
Then, an opportunity came.
Cassandra Pritchett, a well-known director, was searching for a blind actor to play the lead in her new film. I thought it was fate. I believed this was the key to changing Harold’s life for the better. So, I took his hand and led him to the audition.
He won the role with a performance so moving it brought Cassandra to tears.
A year later, ‘Give Me Ten Days of Light’ became a box office sensation and Harold’s name was on everyone’s lips. I was overjoyed for him, proud of how far he had come.
But, one night, he pulled me into a tight embrace, whispering softly against my ear.
"Felicia, fame is fleeting. Even now, my popularity won’t last more than a month."
His breath was warm, his voice laced with urgency, as he spoke, "I love acting. I know I have the talent to bring characters to life. But my blindness limits me."
Then came the words that would shatter my world.
"Felicia, will you give me your corneas?"
I froze.
"When I regain my sight, I’ll finally have a future in this industry. I’ll become truly famous." His grip on me tightened. "I want to marry you, to shelter you from every storm. No more suffering, no more hunger. We’ll leave behind those orphanage days and live in a world as sweet as honey."
He sounded so sincere.
I had never wished for wealth. I only wanted a simple, happy life with him. So, I agreed.
If only one of us could have a normal life, I wanted it to be him. I gave him my sight. And in return, Harold crushed my heart beneath his feet.
Tears burned my eyes and my vision blurred as I recalled my memories.
"Artificial corneas don’t adjust as well as natural ones."
A voice beside me broke through my spiraling thoughts.
I turned to see Doctor Morris watching me, his expression unreadable. At some point, he had sat down beside me.
"Emotional distress or tears can affect their effectiveness," he added.
Wordlessly, he handed me a tissue.
I took it, dabbing at my damp lashes.
"Sorry," I murmured, forcing a shaky smile.
"It’s just that … the wind is very strong today. It seems some sand must have gotten in my eyes."
Lies.
I stood, leaving my unfinished meal behind.
