I was not born blind. I used to see the bright colours of flowers, decorate my room with things I thought looked cute. Now slowly my vision is disappearing. The doctors told me I can still see 10% right now and that means mainly shapes. When it’s dark I cannot see anything.
My father works in healthcare as a nurse and my mom is a 911 operator, which means long hours for them and me spending time alone in our house. It is not a large house, but it is not tiny either. I know every corner of the house and move around the house as if I’m not visually impaired.
When I was around the age of 21 (I am now 23) I was diagnosed with glaucoma. It took around a year for me to go almost completely blind but I have learned to live with it. I work in education and I am still able to teach all of the 7 year old kids in my class. They ask me lots of questions and I don’t mind answering them at all. If anything I enjoy answering those curious little minds.
The following happened in summer break, my parents were both working a late night shift and I was hanging out with my friend, Tiara. Usually when she comes over, she stays for a long time. She is like the only person I can tolerate for more then 24 hours. If you know, you know.
We both finished watching (listening) our favorite series both tired from binge watching and a few tears left on our cheek because of the sad ending of it. Shortly after, she left and I went to clean up. I left the remaining popcorn for me to eat as I put on a podcast to listen to, while loading the dishwasher. I heard a chime from my phone, and VoiceOver started reading the message Tiara sent: ‘I’m home! Goodnight and thanks for the fun day’. I smiled and my podcast continued.
The podcast talked about strange disappearances a few towns over, labeling it as a cold case. I huffed, as the disappearances are still happening thus I do not think the case is that cold yet. I turned off the kitchen lights and moved my way through the hallway towards the living room and I let myself fall back onto the comfy couch, reaching for the bowl of popcorn, when my phone chimed again. VoiceOver read the message that came from the security app.
‘Person detected backyard.’ The voice said. I frowned my brows. Is Tiara back? Or maybe it is a squirrel. Most of the times the system things those are persons too.
I waved it off as being a squirrel, and went back to listening my podcast while shoving handfuls of popcorn in my mouth.
About 2 minutes later my phone chimed again, and again the voice said that there was a person detected in the backyard. I turned my podcast off and listened, hoping I would hear footsteps or anything. I asked Siri my battery percentage, and when he mentioned it is 40% I was slightly relieved. Phone in my hand, I made my way to the back glass window, listening closely, but not being able to see anything in the pitch dark. The lights of the living room reflecting.
I leaned my ear against the glass, hoping to hear anything. That was when I heard a soft breath hitting the glass. I gasped and jumped back. I must be imagining things. The phone chimed again, the voice mentioning a person in the backyard again. I felt a chill run down my spine.
I tried to look, hoping I might see something, someone. For the first time since my blindness, I cursed my lack of sight. I cupped my hands against the glass, looking.
Someone was looking straight back at me. The reflection of the living room lights lit up the whites of his eyes. I screamed and fell back down. I grabbed my phone, calling 911 immediately. The door wriggled and I heard my breathing quicken.
‘911, what’s the address of your emergency?’ A soft female voice I recognised as my mothers. I tried to be calm, I honestly tried, but as soon as I heard my mothers voice I was hysterical.
‘Mom there is someone in the backyard, trying to break into the house.’ My voice was shaking and I felt tears streaming down my face. There was a few seconds of silence, which honestly felt like minutes.
‘Honey, I got the police send to our place, can you hide?’ She asked in a calm voice.
‘Yes, Yes I try.’ I swallowed the lump in my throat and got up. The lights cut off. Shit.
‘Mom-‘ I cried, now completely blind and scared for my life.
‘What happened honey keep talking.’ She said, I heard panic in her voice but she tried to hide it. I reached for my air pods and after seconds of panicked searching I found them. I put one in my ear and put my phone down the front of my pants. Now I had my hands free to feel around. It was like I completely forgot what our house looked like.
‘The light turned off, I can’t see anything mommy.’ I said. I remember trying to open my eyes, in hope that I could see more if I opened them wide enough.
‘Okay honey, where were you last?’ She asks.
‘Living room.’ I replied softly.
‘Okay,’ I heard the ticking of her keyboard, noting everything down I said. ‘Try to reach a wall, and feel your way to the doorway. Take an immediate right and go up the stairs.’ I frantically feel around, feeling the wooden door frame and pulling myself around the corner. I felt for the stairs, and once I felt them, I rushed upstairs. That’s when I remembered I did not lock the front door after Tiara left the house.
Fuck.
‘Mom, I have to lock the front door.’ I said, panic in my voice as I said it.
‘Honey, don’t, just hide the police will be there in 7 minutes.’ She said. But I did not listen. I have to lock the front door.
I turned around and rushed down the stairs, knowing where I was and adrenaline kicking in, I was faster than ever before. My phone chimed, the app’s robotic voice was a horror in my ear.
Person detected front door
I walked to the side of the doorframe, feeling around for the doorbell system and pressing the little microphone button.
‘please leave me alone.’ I said in a shaky voice.
‘What are you doing honey? Go upstairs please.’ My mom said in a panic.
‘Please leave me alone!’ I screamed with a hoarse voice.
‘Why?’ I heard man’s voice was clear as day through the speakers. Surprise caught me as I had not expected this person to talk back.
‘There’s nothing here for you to steal. Please go away.’ I said.
‘Honey lock the door!’ My mom yelled in my ear.
‘Who says I want to steal something?’ I heard the grin on the mans face as he spoke. I locked the doors, and activated the alarm. A quick ‘done’ left my mouth.
‘Good, now go upstairs.’ My mom said hastily.
I took a breath of relief and I turned around, ready to hide upstairs, when the man’s voice came through again.
‘The question remains though,’ He stopped talking, and I stopped walking. ‘Did you just lock me in or out?’