*~‘Magic, Magic hear my plea
Give me this wish I ask from thee
Make my world be sparkling bright
Make my wish come true tonight’~
~~~~
The sunrays shined through the window, it left light feelings on Tiffani’s face and softly waking her from her gentle slumber. Tiffani stretched and yawned and then stood up to get ready for school. She held out her hands to feel a small cane, made smooth from oak wood and carved on its smooth surface, her name. She stood up tapped on the small wooden floor of her room, tapping forward to see if there were any things that were blocking her way or were on the way.
Being blind from an ill-fated accident, 17-year old Tiffani Marks had never bothered to feel pity for herself. After becoming blind, it made her stronger than ever, daring to study in a normal high school even though she knew what the reactions were.
She opened her wardrobe, her clothes in readable Braille tags and she took out her school uniform. It was a long blouse with a black skirt and a red tie. She got ready, carefully tying the tie around her neck. She opened her door to get ready for breakfast, slowly walking down the short stairs towards the kitchen. She heard clanging of pans and plates and sizzling. The wonderful aroma of pancake with syrup filled her nose.
“Good morning” she said. Her older brother Tyler, just 2 years her elder, turned around and smiled at her, although he knew she couldn’t probably see it. His smile faded, as he guided her to sit.
“It’s no use being unhappy for me…you know I hate pity,” Tiffani suddenly said, surprising him.
“How…?” he asked but Tiffany just smiled a knowing smile, her brown eyes without any shine and all empty.
“I can feel you,” she said. “You’re feeling pity for me again.”
Tyler couldn’t help but laugh.
“You can really create a miracle you know that?” he said. “Clara”
“Argh,” Tiffani said, her face making a disgusted look. “Don’t make me remember. I will never play Clara in the nutcracker ever again.”
“The part where you tripped was splendid, Clara” Tyler said, laughing. Tiffani scowled but inside, she felt glad that Tyler was back to normal. Now, if only he can stop reminding her of all her horrible moments. She had played Clara in ‘The Nutcracker’ play back in grade school, when she was still able to see. Eventually, she tripped in one part, which made it the most embarrassing day of her life.
She finished off her breakfast.
“Do I have any stains?” she asked, standing up.
“Yes. No.” Tyler answered.
“Haha, very funny. I’ll know it when I get to school and if I have, be prepared for my cane.” Tiffani said, taking her bag. “Tell mom and dad hi. See ya”
“Let me drive you!” Tyler called after her.
“No need,” she called back. “Sam is picking me up.”
‘Don’t forget! You dear big brother is still here, and isn’t dead yet! I can be relied on” Tyler called out.
Tiffani shook her head and laughed. Later, the sound of the front door was heard closing quietly.
“She’s growing up” Tyler sighed. “She’s not relying on me anymore…”
***
Tiffani walked slowly towards the gate, her cane hitting the rough path, which was in the middle of a beautiful garden. She could smell the flowers and hear the insects like bees, buzzing around to get pollen. How she longed to see these flowers, many colours and types unimaginable. She looked back into her childhood memory before the accident.
She smiled to herself.
Suddenly an arm wrapped itself around her shoulder. She smiled wider.
“Hello, Samuel” she said.
Her best friend, 18-year old Samuel scowled.
“It’s SAM. S-A-M,” Sam said. “For a blind girl, you could be called deaf too.”
Tiffani grinned, held out her hands to feel Sam’s face.
“Ah…” she said, feeling something soft against her hands. “The scarf I gave you for Christmas 8 years ago…does it still fit you?!”
Sam grinned at her, taking her hand in his and leading her slowly into his car. Sam was the only one that had treated Tiffani like a normal girl and she never felt any pity for her and Tiffani smiled at this.
“Yep. It’s still good as new too,” he said.
“Unbelievable.” Tiffani laughed. She smiled secretly, her hand still warm from Sam’s hold. Sam really didn’t know what was under his nose. She heard him walk around to the other side of the car and he hopped in with her.
“Seatbelts!” Sam said, taking his seatbelt and fixed it across his body to keep him safe. Tiffani did the same. Sam started the car and they went on their way to school, like they have always done ever since they met.
Tiffani’s head ached and she bit her lip, trying not to cry out. It has been like this since last night and it was getting worse every day. The causes to it, she didn’t know but she was sure this wasn’t a normal headache.
”Anything wrong?” Sam asked and Tiffani shook her head quickly.
“Everything’s fine,” She sighed. “Just perfectly fine”
***
After arriving school, Sam told Tiffani he had club meeting, which wasn’t unusual because he had a lot of clubs.
“See you after school? I’ll take you somewhere you will like.” Sam said. Tiffani smiled and nodded as she opened her locker combination, also in Braille. They said goodbye to each other, parting in their different routes in school where Tiffani would be usually ignored and Sam would be praised by guys and surrounded on by girls. Tiffani wondered what Sam was talking about. What kind of place would be useful for a blind girl like her to be taken when she couldn’t see anything?
The lessons were usually, as they were, normal and like any other day except in Literature.
She felt someone beside her but she didn’t acknowledge it like usual because she was sure the whole school knew she was a blind girl. She was wrong.
“You know, it’s not good to ignore people.” Said the voice beside her, which startled her.
“P-pardon me?” she asked, turning to the direction of the voice. A male.
“I’ve been smiling and waving at you but you plainly ignore me,” he said.
Tiffani looked down as she got her electronic reader, a small machine, which helped her read her textbooks. She opened it and showed it as well as her cane to the guy.
The guy let out a simple, “Oh.”
“You’re blind?” he asked, astonished and clearly embarrassed.
“Yes,’ she said giving out a simple giggle, the situation amused her where nobody had ever told this poor soul about her.
“I’m sorry for my earlier remark,” The guy said. Tiffani shook, her head.
“It’s alright,” she said.
“I’m Yael.” He said, taking her hand into his and shaking it gently.
“That’s an unusual name.” Tiffani remarked, shaking his hand.
“My mother’s idea. She was in love with those boring Greek names and when I was born, that’s what she called me,” He explained. “Yael”
“My name’s Tiffani,” Tiffani said. “With an I instead of a Y”
“Tiffani. I’ll be sure to remember that,” Yael said.
“Are you new here? Nobody seems to tell you there’s a blind girl in this school.” Tiffani said.
“I’ve just moved in with my parents and twin sister, Alexandria. She’s in this class too but,” Yael looked at the back of the class where his sister was already in an animated discussion with a few guys. “It seems she has made her group of friends.”
Tiffani smiled then there was a knock in the door and the teacher suddenly came in.
“Ah, I see now that our new students have arrived.” The teacher, Mrs. Sunrale said. “Please, introduce yourselves.”
There was shuffling beside her and at the back of the class.
“Hi everyone, my name is Alexandria, but you can call me Alexa,” A female voice said in the back of the class. “I’m 18 years old last March.”
“My name’s Yael,” Yael said from beside her. “I’m also 18 years old last March.”
There was a murmur throughout the whole class as her said this.
“Yes, we’re both twins,” Yael explained. “And I’m planning to join the basketball club.”
“Welcome, man!” one of the guys said in the back of the class. They hooted and Tiffani heard Yael laugh. She smiled in amusement.
“Yes, Welcome Yael and Alexa but I hope you will keep your welcome party later, Derrick,” Mrs. Sunrale told the guy who had welcomed Yael. “For we are in class now. Everyone take out your exercise books and we shall continue with reading ‘Twelfth night’ by William Shakespeare. We are now in Act 2, scene no. 4”
Mrs. Sunrale looked around the class.
“Yael, why don’t you try out what we do? You shall play Duke and,” she looked around some more. “Tiffani, why don’t you assist him? You shall play Viola. Start in ‘What if she cannot love you.’”
The class became quiet and Tiffani, flustered, stood up and took out the Braille sheet.
“What if she cannot love you, sir?” she started, her voice shaking even though in darkness, she knew all eyes were on her. She ran her fingers gently on the dots.
“I cannot be so answer'd,” Yael replied, his voice seemingly more masculine and it had fitted his character, Duke.
“Sooth, but you must. Say that some lady, as perhaps there is, Hath for your love as great a pang of heart,” Tiffani replied, running her fingers over the dots which told her the lines.
“Okay, stop right there.” Mrs. Sunrale said. Tiffani felt her teacher’s gaze move towards her. “Miss. Marks, when have I ever told you to read aloud?”
“U-uh…this is the first time,” Tiffani answered.
“You have a good actress’ voice, so do you Mr. Trent.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Sunrale.” He replied, looking at Tiffani and the corner of his eyes and smiling whereas Tiffani stood, her knees shaking.
“There are Drama auditions after school…I think there will be a few problems for you, Miss Marks but I would be glad if you came.” Mrs. Sunrale was the drama teacher.
“I’d love to,” Yael said. “But only if Miss. Marks would be happy to accompany me.”
“I’ll think about it,” Tiffani said, her face becoming red. She sat down quickly and kept her head down while the teacher explained the lesson.
‘Suddenly, the earth had seemed to gone upside down’ she thought to herself.
***
Tiffani waited in front of her locker, tapping her cane impatiently, waiting for Sam.
“Tiff!” she heard someone call and she smiled, turning to the direction of the voice.
Then her smile turned into a frown, as Sam reached her.
“YOU are late,” she said, feeling his face and then tapping him on the head.
“Ow! What was that for?!” Sam exclaimed, rubbing his head.
“For being late!” she said, opening the cover of her watch for the blind and touching the arms on it, which read 4:20. 30 minutes since she has been waiting.
“Look, I’m sorry, alright?” Sam said, “I got held up by coach”
Tiffani shook her head. “You are forgiven…THIS time,” she said.
Sam grinned, took her cane and held her hand. They walked together, hand in hand towards her car.
“Where are we going Sam?” she asked, putting on her seat belt.
“You’ll see,” Sam said, starting the engine and driving. Tiffani leaned back onto the headrest, letting the wind against her face as she rode together with Sam in his blue convertible, which he had received from his parents on his 17th birthday. Tiffani closed her eyes, tired from all the things that had happened just that day and fell right asleep.
A while later, she felt someone shaking her. She opened her eyes, darkness still greeting her.
“Are we there already?” Tiffani asked, sitting up.
“Yep,” Sam replied, getting out of the car. “Come on, get out so we can go there already!” Tiffani sighed.
“You could at least help me,” she said under her breath.
“You say anythin’?” Sam asked, turning to look at her.
Tiffani smiled. “Oh, nothing!” she said, taking off her seatbelt and getting out the car. Again, she felt his hands into hers and he started to lead her somewhere. Tiffani followed, her footsteps in chorus with his. Their surrounding was quiet and she couldn’t hear anything.
“Where is this place?” she asked, unsure and wishing she had brought her cane.
“You’ll know soon enough,” was all he said. They walked in silence, Tiffani trying to feel her surroundings and Sam walking on ahead, leading her to an unknown place. Then, her foot hit a rock, making her trip in the process. She gasped.
Sam turned around, pulling her forward and stopping the trip. Suddenly, Tiffani found herself in Sam’s arms and his arms around her; together they were on the ground. This made her blush.
“Ouch…” Sam said.
Tiffani felt for him. “Are you hurt?” she asked worried.
“No,” Sam replied, and then he looked at her. “You are so heavy.”
Tiffani let out an annoyed growl and stood up quickly, dusting herself. “Hmp!”
“What? No thanks?” Sam said, feigning bewilderment.
“Thank you!” Tiffani said in a low voice.
“What?” Sam said. “Can’t hear ya.”
“I SAID,” Tiffani cleared her throat. “Thank you.”
