I smile to myself and try to imagine the scenery – how it looks like… how it would make me feel if I do see it. I try hard to get a picture out of my mind, but nothing happens. All I can see are shades of black and streaks of grey. Where do I find meaning in life if I couldn’t see? What is the very definition of life if everything turns out to be a colorless blur?

A tear suddenly falls down my cheek, and I wipe it off. I let out a sigh and end with a bitter smile on my face. I have been blind since I was fifteen. I haven’t seen a hue, or hint, or pigment of any color other than black since being in the accident that took away my sight. I have been truly fortunate to survive, indeed; but the scars that the horrible accident had created remains within me, even until now. If I hadn’t been blind, then maybe I wouldn’t veneer myself so very often… maybe I wouldn’t create walls to shield myself from other people’s prejudices.

“Hi.” the voice of a familiar man echoes in my ear and it interrupts my thoughts. I can feel him inching closer. I stay put and bow my head.

“Hi.” I say back, feeling him sit next to me. I smile at the thought that he is here… that he won’t leave me. I’ve missed him so, and I wouldn’t be afraid to admit it. Not now – not now that I have the chance.

“Are you hungry? I bought some pasta.” he says, his voice calm and sweet.

“Maybe later,” I answer as I sit still and smile quietly. “I’m not really hungry.”

“Is anything the matter?” he asks, sensing a hint of melancholy in my tone. I am happy that he is here, sitting next to me; yet I wonder if he ever gets tired of taking care of me, or if he ever regrets making sacrifices in order to be with me for as long as he possibly could because I’m disabled.

“No. Nothing’s wrong.” I chuckle the melancholy out of my system. “I just… I missed you.” I say instead, and it is true.

He cups my face in his hands and tilts my head so I could face him. He knows it’s useless. He knows I would not see his facial expressions, or the way he would look at me, and yet he makes the slightest hint that it doesn’t matter. “I missed you too.” The words sound sweet. Even if I’ve heard it a million times come out from his mouth, it still makes me smile.

“May I?” I ask. He already knows what I mean, even without elucidating.

“Yes.” He replies, and I place my hands on his cheeks. They feel warm and soft, the way they felt when I first touched his face. My fingers then trace his every facial feature. I can feel his smile tingling against my finger tips and I can’t help but to wonder why that is so. “Why are you smiling?” I then ask with an absentminded smile painted on my face.

“Because I’m happy.” He answers and the smile on my face instantly turns into a full grin.

“Why are you happy?” I ask then, although I already know what the answer is. I just want it to come from him so I would be sure.

“Because you are here with me – right now – and that’s all that matters.” He says. The words sound genuine, I know they are. And I feel the same way. There isn’t any assurance that this would last forever – I am aware of that and it didn’t really matter. For as long as he loves me, I am quite happy.

“I brought you another thing” he says, and I suddenly become curious.

“What is it?” I ask and I hear him groping through the pockets of his jeans. He takes my hand then, slowly and I feel him putting a ring around my ring finger.

“It’s eternity. With you.” he replies after putting the ring on me. I can’t help but to grin at the thought of his words. Eternity. I am happy and he is very much aware of it. I couldn’t try to hide it. There’s no reason to do so.

He has my hand in his, and the warmth of his skin against mine, makes me feel all cozy inside. It is like he never went away. It is like I was at home and there is now other place I would rather be than here.

“Would I ever get to see you? Would I ever get to look into your eyes? Would I ever get to see your smile and not just feel it whenever I touch your face?”

“Possibilities are endless,” he says then his tone full of hope and serenity.

“What if-”

“Everything is going to be fine.” he cut me off.

“How do you know?” I ask, as if there is anything to doubt. I know there isn’t, I was sure of that. I only want to hear it come out from his mouth.

“I don’t.” he paused briefly and then continued “But I believe.” He kissed my forehead and said nothing else.

He held my hand securely and let me know all of his words were true even without mouthing any other words but those three he said before. He loves me, and I love him. That’s all I know. That’s all I am holding onto.

I may be disabled. I may be blind, but my heart sees everything. My heart feels everything and I feel his love for me.

There are things that the ears do not hear, and the eyes do not see. There are things that cannot be observed physically. There are things that the mind cannot analyze, but the heart can comprehend perfectly. For love sees beyond patterns and silhouettes, love hears beyond sound and melody, love can only be truly felt by the heart. I may be physically disabled, and I may be blind, but I am never unmindful of the little things people do for me so I would feel loved.

We were quiet then. And we only listened to the beat of each other’s hearts. In his presence, it was as if I could see again. My world filled with brightness. In his touch, I was secure, and in the silence of his affection, I felt loved.