The year I graduated, sudden blindness ruined my bright future. Fortunately, my girlfriend stayed by my side to get me through the darkest time of my life. But it wasn't until today, seven years later, that I realized my blindness was never an accident. I was just a fool, kept in the dark and played by her for seven years. My name is Lily Carter. I love my boyfriend, Julian Thorne, so much that I don't care that he's blind. It is this love that has kept me going, caring for him for seven long years without a single regret. Julian is incredibly handsome. A friend introduced us in college, and the moment I saw him, I fell hopelessly in love. Back then, his eyes were full of life, and he practically glowed. Unlike an invisible person like me, he was always the center of attention wherever he went. If Julian hadn't suddenly gone blind, our paths probably would have never crossed. But the seven-year curse seems unavoidable for every couple, even if your partner is a blind man. Julian has changed. Two weeks ago, without any warning, his attitude toward me took a complete 180-degree turn. I couldn't read his mind, and he kept avoiding me, refusing to give me any explanation. On top of that, ever since he went blind, he had isolated himself from everyone. Yet, out of nowhere, he asked me to set up a meeting with his old friends. To be honest, during this tormenting period, the thought of ending this relationship has crossed my mind more than once. But every time I think about everything I sacrificed for him, and the beautiful memories we shared over the years, my heart aches. I don't want to break up, but I don't want to keep hurting each other either. Maybe I really should follow the advice of those online relationship experts and have a heart-to-heart talk with him. But during this talk, though he didn't say much, he made my blood run cold.
"Julian, I think we need to talk. I really don't want to keep fighting with you." I stopped tracing the page with my fingertips, slipped the bookmark in, closed the book, and turned toward the direction of her voice. "Can you tell me what’s wrong with you lately? Are you tired of me? Is that why you lose your temper so often?" I let out a self-deprecating laugh and closed my eyes, which could no longer tell night from day. "Lily, your voice is so beautiful. Do you remember Chloe Evans? I never told you this, but your voices sound so similar. I can barely tell you two apart." Lily froze. She took a step back, letting go of my hand. "Why are you suddenly bringing her up?" They say when a person loses their sight, their hearing becomes incredibly sharp. I am no exception. Even though I couldn't see her face, and even though she tried her best to hide her shock at hearing that name, I could still hear the slight tremor in her voice. I didn't answer her question. Instead, I started talking about our college days. "I don't remember when I first met Chloe. I just knew she was your best friend. But she was always so shy, barely speaking, always hiding in your shadow." Lily didn't say a word. Maybe she was lost in the memories just like me. "But then, one day, I finally heard her speak a full sentence. I realized she wasn't completely invisible. At least, her voice was just as beautiful as yours." I heard the sound of her hair whipping as Lily snapped her head up. She stopped hiding her emotions, her voice filled with agitation. "Is that how you saw her?" Sensing she had overreacted, she quickly added, "She is my best friend!" "I'm sorry," I said, holding my head in guilt. "Since I lost my sight, I haven't heard anything about her. I thought you guys drifted apart because of me." Seeing me in pain, Lily softened. She rushed over and wrapped her arms around me. "No, it wasn't because of you." I breathed in the faint scent of gardenia on her skin. "I want to apologize to her for what happened back then. Can you invite her over to our place?" Lily's body went stiff, rigid as a robot. "She doesn't live in Oakridge anymore. If you have something to say, tell me. I'll pass it on." "I just wanted to tell her... thank you for loving me back then. But having you is enough for me."
The year I went blind, I was incredibly unstable. I was violently angry, smashing things and destroying the house on a daily basis. My family is very wealthy, and I'm not the only son. So, to let their mentally broken son "recover," my parents bought me a private condo in the city and hired a private nurse to take care of me. Back then, the only people with me were the nurse and Lily. She loved me so much. No matter how much I screamed at her, she never left me. But I couldn't accept the fact that I would never see again. During one of my tantrums, I accidentally threw a glass vase that cut her. She begged me to stop destroying myself and try to look on the bright side. What a joke. She wasn't the one who was blind. Of course she could say that. So I screamed at her, telling her to get the hell out of my life. That day, I said some horrible things. Things that make me cringe even now. Lily was heartbroken, and she walked out of my apartment without looking back. I went on another destructive rampage. At first, the nurse tried to stop me. Eventually, she gave up, standing far away and watching me smash everything, only cleaning up after I was done. Maybe the things I said to Lily were too harsh this time, because I actually started to feel terrified. I was terrified she would never come back, terrified the only person who loved me would abandon me. That was when Chloe Evans showed up. I forgot to mention, besides Lily, there was someone else who visited me every single day—Chloe. But because she barely spoke and just sat quietly by my side, she had almost no presence. That was the first time Chloe had ever seen me so pathetic. She must have felt pity. She walked past the broken shards on the floor, came to my side, and spoke her first words in a long time. I don't remember what she said, but I mistook her voice. I thought Lily had come back. I threw away all my pride and bitterness, holding her tightly. I apologized, showed my vulnerability, and begged her to forgive my harsh words. She didn't say a word. Instead, she cupped my face and kissed me. I was ecstatic, thinking she had forgiven me, so I kissed her back wildly. I was so irrational. If I had just taken a second to think, I wouldn't have made such a mistake. Lily never wore perfume, but the girl in my arms smelled heavily of gardenias. The endless darkness had not only taken my eyes, it had taken my brain. Right then, Lily came back. Her sharp gasp interrupted us. Hearing them together, I finally realized the difference between their voices. I let go of Chloe instantly, standing up from the couch in a panic. I started apologizing frantically, trying to grab Lily's hand, trying to hold her. But she seemed determined to ignore me. No matter how much I begged, she didn't make a sound, refusing to let me know where she was standing. Later, I tripped over some broken glass I had thrown. All she left me was the sharp slam of the front door. I started screaming at Chloe, calling her shameless for trying to seduce me. I don't know when Chloe left. She was always like a ghost. When I grew tired of screaming, I started smashing things again. But there was barely anything left to break. I felt like my life was completely pointless. I picked up a piece of broken glass and slashed my wrist. The nurse, wanting to keep her job, quickly called an ambulance. None of my family members showed up. They were already used to my daily suicide threats. The only one with me was the nurse. Just when I thought Lily would never forgive me, she showed up again the next evening. She had changed a lot. She talked less, and she became much quieter. I understood—it was because I hated her lecturing me. So she stopped saying all those useless things about getting better. So, I changed my attitude too, because I had nothing left to lose. I never screamed at her again. I went from being a monster to being completely obedient. Gradually, she opened up to me again, returning to her cheerful self. We tacitly never brought up Chloe again, as if she had never existed. At first, I avoided the name, but over time, I actually forgot about her. I forgot that she used to visit me every day, and I forgot that she had never shown up again since that day. Just like that, seven years flew by. 3. To be honest, after losing my sight, I lost all concept of time. If Lily hadn't mentioned the date, I wouldn't have realized we had been living like this for seven years. During this time, I kept going for regular eye checkups and took the pills the doctor prescribed. I only did it for that tiny, hopeless shred of light, hoping that one day I would see again. But after seven years of waiting for a miracle that never came, my hope died. So, I stopped taking the pills. When Lily found out, she flew into a rage for the first time. Terrified she would think I was giving up on life again, I swallowed the bitter pills right in front of her, promising I would never do something so stupid again. Only then did she calm down, repeatedly warning me to listen to the doctor. I groaned inwardly but promised her anyway. She had given up seven years of her youth for me. I didn't want her to feel like she had loved the wrong man. Besides, there was so little I could do for her. But once the seed of doubt was planted, it was hard to pull out. I still stubbornly threw away the pills every day. I kept it a secret and hid it perfectly. But then, the unthinkable happened. About three months later, as the weather turned cold and we traded short sleeves for heavy coats, a miracle happened. I saw a flicker of light! I was ecstatic. My first instinct was to call Lily. But as I speed-dialed her number and listened to the long rings, hearing her voice on the other end suddenly calmed me down. What if it was just temporary? What if I woke up tomorrow in darkness again? Maybe I was just hallucinating. Years ago, my eyes had played a trick on me like this. I had been so happy back then, sharing the news with Lily on the first day, only to plunge back into total darkness the next. She asked me what was wrong. My excitement crushed by my own fear, I just said I missed her, chatted for a bit, and hung up. That night, I lost myself in her, making passionate love to her until dawn. I woke up the next morning with a racing heart. But when I opened my eyes, the light was still there. I was overjoyed. But I still didn't tell Lily. I changed my mind. I would wait until my vision was fully restored to give her the surprise of her life. After all, I was still a young, healthy man. Within just one week, my vision was fully restored! That was the first time I walked out of my apartment without a cane in seven years. I was too proud to use one anyway. After going blind, I had cut off all contact with the outside world. I was terrified of the pity from friends and family. Every "How are you?" felt like a blade stabbing into my chest. I didn't walk far. Time had flown by so fast, and I wasn't confident I could find my way home after seven years. When you're blind, time drags. When you can see, it flies. I took a nap on the couch, only waking up when I heard the front door open. My beloved was home. But the moment I opened my eyes, I froze. Was the woman taking off her shoes at the entryway really my beloved Lily? Even after seven years, someone's face doesn't change *this* much. The woman standing before me was not the Lily in my memory. Then who was she?
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