Short Stories

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Sandra Parker stared critically at her reflection in the bedroom mirror. She turned to look at her husband, running his fingers across the brail pages of his book. “Jeff do you love me?”
Jeff turned his head in the direction of Sandy’s voice, “What makes you ask that? You know I love you.”
Sandy blew at the hair in her face, “I just don’t see how anyone could.” She watched Jeff, thinking about his appearance, he was somewhat awkward but well groomed in spite of his lack of physical attractiveness.
She wondered what he would think if he could see her. She knew he was blind from birth and there was no chance of him ever being able to see. His sight would always be restricted to touching, but still she wondered.
Sandy turned back to the mirror. Her hair was dark and crinkly, almost stringy. Her eyes were a watered down brown-green color. Her skin was pasty white, she was ugly. She absolutely hated herself.
She glanced back at Jeff, at least he looked a little better than her but even so they matched well. It wasn’t fair to her to have to live this way. Jeff was totally oblivious to their both being unattractive and he was happy. Why was she the one who was unhappy? Why did she have to cry every night and pretend to be happy in the day? Why did she have such strong painful emotions that she couldn’t even share with her husband, her closest companion and she couldn’t even tell him her thoughts.
Sandy looked at the clock – 5:00pm. “Jeff I’m going to start dinner.”
“Alright darling.”
Sandy flustered at Jeff’s response. “Darling”, she muttered to herself as she entered the kitchen.
Sandy washed her hands and started dinner. She couldn’t stop thinking about her and Jeff, their marriage. She loved Jeff but she wanted a man that could protect her, someone without a disability. It was so hard on her to live everyday with a man that couldn’t see to kiss her goodnight. Why did it have to be so hard on her and why couldn’t she tell anyone about her deep feelings?

“Dinner’s ready Jeff”, Sandy called down the hall.

Jeff lowered himself down into his chair at the dining room table and waited for Sandy to say the blessing. “Darling, is something bothering you?”
Sandy looked up with surprise, “What makes you think something is bothering me?”
“I’m blind, not stupid. Now what’s wrong?”
Sandy put down the fork she was playing with, “Jeff I need a vacation.”
“Ok, we’ll plan it right away, where do you want to go?”
“No Jeff, I need a vacation. I need to get away and have some time to myself, time to think and sort.”
Jeff shifted in his chair, “Oh. What do you need to think and sort out?”
“I don’t know, I just need some time to be Sandy Bowers.”
Jeff looked hurt, “But you’re not Sandy Bowers anymore, you’re Sandy Parker.”
Sandy stood up, “You wouldn’t understand Jeff. I’m going to plan on going on vacation with Lisa next week. She said she was going and I want to go with her.”
Jeff sat quietly as Sandy left the room.
Jeff felt his was into his ‘prayer room’. He sat down on the hearth near the fireplace. “God, Sandy’s going on vacation with her sister. I’m scared she regrets our getting married. I don’t what to do but I know I love Sandy more than anything in this world. God, don’t let her break those wedding vows.”


Sandy took a deep breath as she looked at the front door of her house. She knew Jeff was waiting inside to hear that she had a lovely time and she missed him. But that was something she couldn’t say.
Sandy walked down the hall and stood in the doorway of Jeff’s favorite room. The one he called his ‘prayer room’. She scanned the room and wondered how a blind man could pick a favorite room. She pushed the thought away and stepped inside, “Jeff.”
Jeff was calmly sitting on the heath with his head tilted, “Yes darling?”
“Jeff we have to talk.” Jeff remained in his position, “Ok.”
Sandy took a breath, “Jeff when I was on vacation I fainted. Lisa took me to the hospital and I…Jeff I’m expecting a baby.”
Jeff smiled right away and stood to his feet, “That’s wonderful darling.”
Sandy shook her head in frustration, “No Jeff it isn’t.”
Jeff stood right in front of her, “Why isn’t it darling?”
“Oh stop it, stop it. Stop calling me darling. I’m, I’m going to leave you Jeff.”
Jeff’s expression never changed.
Sandy let the hot tears flow down her cheeks.
“Darling just sit in this room for a while, you’ll feel better.”
Sandy threw her arms at her sides, “Jeff what is it about this stupid room that you love so much?”
Jeff smiled brightly at the question, “Oh just look at it Sandy, it’s beautiful. You want to know why I love this room Sandy. It’s because this is the only room where I can see.”
Sandy’s mouth dropped open, “What are you talking about Jeff?”
“I’m talking about the mantelpiece and the bookshelf and the antique coffee table. This room is my altar Sandy, and when I bring my blindness to my altar, I can see everything.”
Sandy let out a small cry, “Jeff this room is empty. There’s not even a picture on the wall. There’s nothing in here.”
Jeff shook his head, “No Sandy, it’s fully furnished. I can see it. And Sandy I can see you!”
Sandy couldn’t help but respond, “What do I look like Jeff?”
Jeff put his hands on her arms, “You’re beautiful darling.”
“No Jeff, I’m ugly. You can’t see me, I’m ugly.”
“No darling, you’re not. Your hair is lovely and your eyes are wonderful.”
Sandy grabbed Jeff’s shoulders, “No Jeff, the room is empty and I’m ugly.”
Jeff’s glowing face went sad, “darling, I see you, don’t you believe Sandy?”
Sandy licked her lips, “no, I don’t.” Jeff’s heart fell and he let his arms fall at his sides. “Jeff I have to leave, I can’t live like this anymore.”
Jeff was silent even when she kissed his cheek and left the house.


Time passed and Sandy never heard another word from Jeff. Then out of nowhere she received a call from Lisa that Jeff had been found dead in his prayer room. He had died of a heart attack. Sandy was haunted by constant thoughts of Jeff and everyday she saw him clearly in her son. He looked and acted just like Jeff.
Three months after Jeff’s death, Sandy decided it was time to sell the old house where she and Jeff used to live. She went to clean it out and get it ready to sell.

Sandy looked around; she’d cleaned every room but Jeff’s prayer room. She knew it was empty, but still something drew her to it. She went to take one final look at the room Jeff had loved so much. She stepped into it and looked across the empty, room that had been Jeff’s sanctuary. She had never figured out what it was that Jeff loved so much about the empty room. She had guessed it was simply that he could believe in anything inside this room. It was his world and in his world anything could happen.
Sandy started to leave and took one last look at the fireplace. Something above the mantelpiece caught her eye and she approached to study it. As soon as she was close enough to see it well her eyes flooded with tears.
There on the wall hung a beautifully painted portrait…of her. At the bottom, the words, ‘My Beautiful Darling’ was smoothly written. At the corner of the painting was the signature, Jeff Parker.

He could really see in this room. It was Sandy who was blind to the altar in the center of the room where her happiness had awaited her for so many years. She had finally found it, there in the empty room.






(Note:
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-Abigail)

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