She tried. But still she could not see.
Not the way she should have. Not the way others expected her to. Not how they could. All crisp lines and sharp edges.
There was no focus to her sight. No defined hues.
No boundaries.
No wonder others thought she had no need for any.
She used to think it was her fault. Her eyes a reflection of failure.
She’d seen a doctor since. In secret, but at least this one was hers to hold in confidence.
Her optic nerve had never fully formed.
But her heart, she now knew, saw perfectly.
For Rochelle’s Friday Fictioneers
Photo prompt © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields
Na'ama Yehuda 
We only know what we know. The protagonist is happy the way she is. Impairments are only an issue if they cause problems.
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Indeed! Exactly! And we can find the path that works for us, regardless of what others thinks it ought to be.
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I’ll raise my glass to that. 😀
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😀 Cheers!
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🥂
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Most of us would choose our own burden rather than trade it for someone else’s. We adjust as necessary.
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Amen to that, Oneta. At least, we’d rather know who we are and what we’re willing to do, and the price of being ourselves and seeing clearly. I can’t speak for what others would prefer, but I, for one, prefer my experience to what others would dictate for me. And, yes, that does require adjustment, which to me is part of life. Thanks for this comment!
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Beautiful story. Love the last line Na’ama
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Thank you, Sadje! 🙂 I’ve worked with a child who was losing his vision (and was already deaf), and it was something we’d spoken about, the seeing with one’s heart. He was very good at that. And it was GOLD.
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What an inspiration he must be. Thanks for sharing his story
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Yes! He should be a young man by now, and I have no doubt he still shines!
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Indeed 🥰
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🙂
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Beautifully done. She may see too well
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She may, eh? And yet, if it helps her ‘see’ things more clearly about herself, and about her options, then it may be a better trade …
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She will definitely see more, that way…
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Yes, quite so she will, I do believe …
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Na’ama Y’karah,
She definitely has a positive perspective. Wonderful use of the prompt, my friend. Glad to see you here this week.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks, Rochelle! Glad to participate. I don’t always manage to, but I’m always happy to when I can! 🙂 Yeah, perspective is everything, or at the very least, a lot of what’s necessary! ox Na’ama
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i love her attitude. she can clearly sees what some other folks with perfect eyes can’t.
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Yes! Exactly! 🙂 Thank you for this comment!
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Great take on the prompt. All the way around from the impaired vision to the woman’s acceptance of it.
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Thanks! Sometimes accepting one’s reality is a big step toward making a life that’s good, no matter what the limitations in it. 🙂
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She saw the way she saw and that was fine with her because she is who she is and not like everyone else. Knowing why she sees the way she does is justification for others as she really didn’t need it, did she? Lovely write.
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Exactemente! And … yes, to knowing who we are and why we are the way they are and that we’re good enough the way we are, and our behavior toward others and what we make of ourselves to leave the world a better place for having been in it, is what we can control. xoxo
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Exactly! What you said! xoxoo
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XOXO 🙂
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A lovely story. I enjoyed that.
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Thank you, Sandra! Glad you did!
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Those of us that see are often blind to what our heart perceives.
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Well said! Yes! Very much so, right?!!
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What a beautiful, gentle “twist” at the end. Good line: “Her eyes a reflection of failure.”
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Thanks, Li! 🙂 So glad you liked it!
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You’re very welcome, Na’ama.
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🙂
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Oh, I could really identify with this one! I had a tiny little stroke in my left eye, an occlusion in the optic nerve that has ruined a small field of vision. When I close my right eye, things I see in my middle vision with the left eye blur. Nothing can be done. So I had complete sympathy for your character when you told us her optic nerve had never developed.
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Oh, wow, Linda, yes, these things can change everything, can’t they? And then we have to adapt. Vision stuff is deceptive sometimes, and I’m sorry you had this happen AND I’m glad that it was no worse, and that you seem to manage the changes. I have some wonky vision symptoms (related to migraines, mostly, so they are for the most part transient), and I can sort-of relate, though thankfully nothing wrong with my optic nerve per se, or my eyes for that matter. Just other neural stuff that likes to give them grief once in a while.
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Someone asked me once, if I had to choose, would I rather be deaf or blind? I’d rather be deaf. Losing your hearing is, of course, very difficult. But for me, living in complete darkness 100% of the time would be worse.
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I hear you. I think either one would be very very difficult to me, but yes, I’m with you.
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The things we see and don’t see, you describe it so well. The heart sees things the eyes do not, but sometimes it’s just the brain getting excited.
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Yes, so true! And it is not always easy to know which is which and why and what for.
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Acceptance of congenital reality is a good thing, but as your story alludes, self-guilt is so often the real heartbreak. Wonderfully done, Na’ama. 🙂
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Thank you, Bill. Yes, all too often people are made to internalize guilt for things they have no real doing in, and that they are certainly not to be shamed for. Yet are. It takes courage and self-inspection to understand that one can accept their limitations AND accept themselves as good enough.
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