Janice’s heart pounded every time she received a message from Colin. Their connection felt so real, so effortless, yet one truth lingered over her like a shadow: she was blind. And as their first date grew closer, fear wrapped around her chest. How long could she keep this secret? How long before Colin realized that the world she moved through was one he couldn’t even begin to see?
The dim glow of the computer screen barely illuminated the dark room. Janice sat at her desk, fingers hovering over the keyboard, a small smile tugging at her lips. The robotic voice of her screen reader broke the silence.
“Message from Colin: I love that author. One winter, I read nearly ten of his books. ‘Love is War’ is my favorite. What about you?”
A soft laugh escaped her lips. She could almost picture Colin’s enthusiasm, the way he might have eagerly typed those words. Her hand moved instinctively over the keyboard, her fingers brushing the familiar keys.
“Dictate a message,” the robotic voice prompted.
“Good choice,” she said, keeping her tone light and warm. “I might’ve picked that one too, but I really loved ‘The Princess’s Favorite.’ I remember bawling at the ending—I just couldn’t stop for hours.”
“End message. Send.”
As the message was sent, warmth spread through her chest. Talking to Colin had quickly become the best part of her days.
They had met online a few weeks ago, and from their very first conversation, something had just… clicked. They bonded over books, sharing their thoughts and favorite passages late into the night. But it wasn’t just about literature. They talked about everything—dreams, fears, and even silly little details, like their favorite pizza toppings.
But there was one thing Janice couldn’t bring herself to share.
Twice now, Colin had asked to meet in person, and both times, she had hesitated. She had made excuses—work, errands, feeling under the weather. But the truth was much simpler and much harder to explain: she wasn’t ready to tell him she was blind.
As if on cue, the robotic voice interrupted her thoughts.
“Message from Colin: Wait, you listen to books? You love audiobooks? That’s interesting—I just can’t get into them. I need to hold the book, feel the pages, smell the paper. That’s how I really enjoy a story. Don’t you feel the same?”
Janice’s smile faltered. The words hit her harder than she expected, like a quiet reminder of all the ways her world was different from his. He didn’t know. How could he? But suddenly, her blindness felt like an enormous, insurmountable thing standing between them.
“Dictate a message,” the computer prompted.
Janice took a shaky breath. “Colin, I have to confess,” she began, her voice trembling. “I’m blind. I can’t read regular books, so I rely on audiobooks.”
The words hung in the air, heavy and raw. What if this changed everything? What if he saw her differently after this?
“Delete message,” she blurted, panic flooding her chest.
“Message deleted,” the robotic voice confirmed.
She swallowed hard. “I just love listening to books while multitasking,” she dictated instead, forcing a casual tone.
“End message. Send.”
Janice leaned back in her chair, pressing her palms into her face. She couldn’t hide this forever. But how could she tell him? She hadn’t felt this kind of connection with anyone in years, and the thought of him walking away because of this truth was too much to bear.
Another chime.
“Message from Colin: You keep surprising me. Hey, I have tickets to a movie premiere this weekend. Want to come with me?”
Janice’s breath caught. Her fingers hovered over the keyboard. This was it. She couldn’t keep dodging him forever.
“Yes, I’d love to,” she typed. The message sent before she could talk herself out of it.
Her heart pounded. She knew the truth had to come out soon. But for now, she held onto the hope that maybe, just maybe, everything would turn out okay.
Janice arrived at the mall two hours early. Her grip on her white cane was firm as she listened to the steady hum of footsteps and distant chatter. The mall was enormous, and the unfamiliar space made her anxious. She needed to prepare.
She approached a security guard at the entrance, swallowing her nerves. “Excuse me,” she said. “Could you help me find the theater? I’d like to practice the route before meeting someone.”
The older man nodded kindly. “Of course. Let me walk you there.”
His voice was patient as he guided her, explaining each turn, each landmark.
“Twenty steps straight, then a right turn, fifty more steps to the escalator,” she repeated under her breath, memorizing each instruction.
After a second trip back and forth, she felt a little more confident, though the tight knot in her stomach refused to loosen.
“Good luck, miss,” the guard said with a smile. “You’ve got this.”
Janice returned to the entrance, tucking her cane into her bag. She had to hide it. She wasn’t ready for Colin to know.
“Janice?” A warm, friendly voice pulled her from her thoughts.
Her heart skipped a beat. “Colin!” she said, her voice bright with fake confidence. She opened her arms for a hug, relieved when he stepped forward and embraced her.
“It’s great to finally meet you,” he said. Then he hesitated. “But… sunglasses? On a cloudy day?”
“Oh,” she said quickly, her mind racing. “My eyes are really sensitive to light. I wear them all the time. I hope that’s okay.”
“Not a problem at all,” Colin said easily.
As they walked into the mall, Janice focused on counting her steps while keeping up with their conversation. But somewhere along the way, she lost track. When they reached the escalator, she hesitated. Her foot hovered uncertainly above the floor, fear creeping in.
“Wait!” she blurted, her voice sharp with panic.
“What’s wrong?” Colin asked, concern in his tone.
“Uh… I just feel a little dizzy,” she lied. “Could you help me get to the cinema?”
“Of course,” he said, slipping his arm around hers. The warmth of his touch steadied her, but guilt weighed heavily in her chest.
How long could she keep this up?
The movie was a blur of sounds, loud explosions, and indistinct dialogue. Janice tried to follow along, but without visuals, she felt lost. Then, Colin leaned in.
“Isn’t that shot amazing?” he whispered. “See how they angled the camera?”
“Yeah, it’s… stunning,” she said hesitantly.
“What stands out most in this scene?” he pressed.
Janice swallowed hard. “Uh… I’m not sure.”
Colin frowned. “Don’t think too hard. Just say the first thing that comes to mind.”
“Colin,” she whispered, panic rising. “Let’s talk after the movie.”
When the credits rolled, Colin turned to her, eyes sharp. “There wasn’t a boat, Janice.”
She froze.
“Why are you lying?”
Tears welled in her eyes. “Colin, please—”
“No,” he interrupted, standing. “I thought what we had was real.”
He walked away.
“Colin!” she called, stumbling after him. “Please!”
A quiet pause.
Then, a voice beside her.
“You’re blind, aren’t you?”
She turned. It was him.
“Yes,” she whispered.
Colin sighed. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I was scared,” she admitted.
“You wouldn’t have lost me,” he said. “But the lying almost did.”
She reached for his hand. “Can we start over?”
A small smile. “As long as you promise—no more secrets.”
