End to end
A fragile line in-between
Eyes lost in an abyss pit of doubt
But amalgamated by a single melody.
Amiss in the sight of many
Yet a blind will to unfold
Dance into infinity with me.
Darkness has been a constant reminder that the world around me was bereft. As a blind girl with heterochromia, which was the rarest of its kind. I was told the right side of my eyes was blue and the left side was hazel, a weird mix of rare green and red. My hair was naturally white and wavy; my mom died while giving birth to me in a car accident, and the headlights of different cars were just enough to make me blind.
My father's acrimonious behavior towards me is a constant reminder that I killed my mom. I was told that he never looked directly into my eyes; it's not like I could even see him anyway, but he made sure I never took off my black glasses when I was around him.
But that wasn't the most absurd issue of my life; since everything was an evolving darkness, my dreams were the only means of escaping this harsh reality.
But figure skating?
Wasn't it impossible? No. What was even more impossible was my crush on Aziz Griffin; he happens to be one of the best ice skaters at 'Azizuz IceField College', and from all I have gathered, Aziz's grandfather owns the college, and he was named after his grandpa. On two occasions, we have spoken, not directly, obviously. He didn't even know about my existence. Then he was just addressing all the skaters, and I happened to be one of them
I could only imagine what he looked like. I heard he was 6.3 feet tall, with sea green eyes and black long hair that he often ties in a messy bun, sometimes he doesn't, depending on his mood. I couldn't stop my imagination from running wild.
But some dreams are meant to stay as dreams, or so I thought.
Spending all my savings for extra skating and ballet classes paid off. It was hard at first; being blind and dancing on ice skate shoes wasn't easy at all, and all the injuries and bruises from falling took the longest to heal, but I was better now, at least good enough to compete in this year's competition, but we needed to get our partners, and it was simple how it was done. The coach does this thing where the male skaters get to pick a folded piece of paper with the name of any girl in class to be their partner. And I knew I wouldn't be Aziz's partner because he was paired up with Kurri—not that it was wrong, but there was nothing wrong with a girl hoping.
I never spoke with my classmates because they found me weird. Last year I didn't get a partner, but it was fine, and I wasn't giving up this year. My ears were attentive as I heard our coaches call the names of all the male skaters and their partners.
"Desmond Norman and Kurri Smith are partners for this year's competition."
I heard one of the coaches say,Well, it was okay; Samantha was friends with Kurri and would surely be Aziz's partner; that's how it has always been. I felt defeated. Standing up, I took my probing cane and my school bag, ready to exit the door. No one would even notice I was gone, a sad smile on my face as my mind drifted off from my surroundings.
"Aziz Griffin and Athalia Alfred are partners for this year's competition, and I think that's all the names we have here."
I was confused as to why I heard my name, but the sudden realization had me gasping like a fish out of water. I could feel Aziz present; he was in front of me. Everyone was appalled, just like I was, because I could hear catcalls and angry hisses from the crowd behind us; they must have all been blown out of their minds, but my concern was mostly on Aziz; he has not said a thing to me and I was already embarrassed out of my mind.
What was he seeing? I bet I was a dwarf compared to 6 feet; I was far too lost in my thoughts to have noticed how he took my hands in coddled manner.
"Would you be my partner, Athalia?" He said it out loud for everyone to hear.
Oh, my world, his voice was so deep. My cheeks were flushed, but I managed a nod. I felt like the universe was against me for taking my sight because I would give anything to see him at this moment. But_ I wasn't so selfish. I was still so happy, Aziz! Like the Aziz noticed me. My cheeks were going to hurt by the time I got home.
He was gentle and calm with me at first; my diffidence around him only increased as we sat down, waiting to be called onto the skating rink to perform.
"You don't have to force yourself to be my partner; I really understand," I mumbled.
"Doesn't matter." That wasn't the response I was expecting; it seemed like his mood changed like a switch; his hands were no longer holding mine, and that placed me in a very awkward situation. Yes, I was blind, but that doesn't mean I don't have feelings like every other regular person.
I sit down quietly, listening to the names of different skaters called out to the skating rink and the background music. Really, what was I thinking? It was honestly pathetic how I thought Aziz would warm up to me; I would have loved to cry. I felt the urge more than anything right now, but I never cry; all my life I have never experienced such a sensation, and maybe I won't. I signed.
Aziz, honey bear, what are you doing with this blind freak? I thought we were supposed to nail the competition this year just like every other time."
I grimaced. Kurri had never liked me, but Aziz Honey Bear wasn't just it. Being blind didn't stop me from feeling Aziz's irritation.
Firstly, don't call me that, like ever, and I don't have any problem with Athalia being my partner; she's better with you two combined."
Aziz, love, you can't pick her over me; most definitely not her. Right?."
Yeah, you and Kurri Pie have always been partners; you can't just throw everything away for this disabled creature." Now that was rude, and I'm sitting right here; that certainly was Samantha; she and Kurri took every chance they had to remind me of my disability.
"What do you think you have on me that makes you think I can't pick her over you anytime, any day, and even now?"
I heard gasps; it seemed like I wasn't the only one listening to their conversation, because I could hear whisperings, but that wasn't the only thing. I didn't know whose eyes were digging holes in my face, but it was scary.
"I'm better than she, and I have always proven that. You can't do this to me, Aziz; you can't choose her over me!"
"Get your obsession somewhere else; you're boring my eyes."
The gasps and whispering only got louder, and all I could do was sit there because what was I to say in such a situation? Aziz was standing up for me, which was weird. Looking back at his response to me made me think he didn't want to even think about my existence.
"Okay. I won't disturb you again." I could hear the flash of hurt in Kurri; you couldn't miss it since she made it her duty to tell everyone about her feelings for Aziz. So I bet it did hurt.
"Fine by me." His voice was so cold that I was surprised that I wasn't a frozen statue, even if his words were not directly to me. I felt pity for Kurri, but next, I heard footsteps, and that was it, but that didn't stop the whispering from going on.
"You didn't have to, you know." I stuttered, too scared of Aziz's response to me. Like I said, his mood switched; it's sweet now and sour later. Well, I didn't get any response, just like I anticipated, but I felt his eyes staring at me, so he heard me.
But that wasn't important anymore since we were called to perform. He had told me what dance we were performing, so it was easy since I knew what we were performing. I had to keep my probing cane or blind stick, remove my dark shade, and place everything in my bag.
On the skating rink was where I felt free; the dulcet tones of the song were enveloping my soul, as they always do. Because I knew the skating rink like the back of my palm, I didn't have to open my eyes; nobody had to see them; all I needed to do was feel and let my body flow with the melody.
For every flip, freestyle movement of jump,and spin I made, Aziz was there to catch me, lift me in the most graceful manner, It was like he was telling me to trust him, and so I did. It felt like our souls were in concord as we danced so smoothly; our bodies cohere like a natural force elegantly. For every time he chased my speed or held me to himself, I felt a different kind of freedom, so free that when he said
"Open your eyes."
I felt his words trickling down my spine, leaving shivers, and when I opened my eyes I knew he could see them; I knew everyone could at this point. The crowd endorse out with applause as the song died down, and so did our movement. I could hear clapping and praising from different corners.
"Impressive." Aziz chortled. "The judges and coaches even gave you a standing ovation." The enthusiastic applause only continues. My ebullient self could not be repressed anymore; I was bubbling over with excitement, and my smiles only grew bigger.
"You are beautiful, aún màs hermosa con tus ojos. (even more beautiful with those eyes). nunca màs los escondas. (Don't ever hide them again)."
Those words did something to me, cause I felt my cheeks wet and for the first time I actually cried. And the darkness I saw turned into light,and through that light I could see.
It turns out we were the champions of this year's competition, and that's how I lived in my dreams of dancing in ice skates shoes freely with my Aziz💃🕺
Image are from #pixabay the few edits were made by me🦋.