Blind - Chapter 11

It was nearing to the end of the school year, and Jason and Sheila both got super excited. Jason was going to play video games all summer; even if we went to our cousin's house, he would play there, too. Sheila was different, she loved doing activities in the summer. Swimming, overnight camps, stuff that I was never going to go to.

I was in my room, surfing through my list of music. I counted down eight times then clicked the play button. She Will be Loved by Maroon 5 came on, and I listened carefully, figuring out what every little word was.

"Ember!" Jason called. I shut off my iPod and sat up from my bed that I was laying on.

"What? What do you want?" I asked, yelling. It was Sunday, and Jason rarely got out of his room, it was only to eat or go to the bathroom. I wonder why he was out now.

Mousse's head was laying on my thigh, and his tail was by my feet. His head lifted off my leg, and he growled.

What is wrong? I climbed out of bed, set my iPod on the nightstand that was by it, and made my way to the door to go downstairs.

"Come on, Mousse. Downstairs." I said, and Mousse started walking off. I grabbed a tuft of his hair and let him guide me. I really needed a leash for him.

I stopped at the bottom of the stairs and whipped my head in directions, trying to listen where Jason was. Everything was quiet.

"Jason?" I called softly. "Why do you need me down here?"

I heard feet on the floor, and Sheila said, "Ember, it's me." She walked to the right of me and I smelled something like strawberries. Maybe she was eating one.

"Oh. Jason wanted me or something," I replied, and was about to tell Mousse to go to my room, when from behind me someone pushed me and yelled loudly. I stumbled forward, almost falling on my face until Sheila caught me.

I screamed, and over my screaming I heard Sheila say, "Why did you do that, Jason? Why? Do you realize she is blind?"

Eventually I stopped screaming. I bit my lip to hold tears in—I didn't want to cry. No.

"I hate you, Jason," I say, mostly to myself, but I knew he heard me. "Up to my room, Mousse."

I walked up with Mousse, and I opened my room door, let Mousse in, then got in myself and locked it shut.

I let out an elated sigh, but I was still trembling from Jason scaring me. Why, why when my life was going so good, it got worse now? Why this year? First it was everything being so overwhelming, then this.

I clenched my teeth and made my way to my bed, walking carelessly. I stepped on something hard and sharp. I winced, but I kept walking and when I finally got to my bed I sat down.

If I wasn't blind, Jason, I thought, then I wouldn't mind your trick. But if you don't know, I am blind. I wonder why he did it. Maybe he was just trying to be mean. A mean, nasty brother.

I wish I could write Braille. Then no one would know if I wrote, Jason is the cruelest person I've met. When he dies, send him to Hell.

I locked myself in my room for most of the day. At evening, though, someone knocked on my door.

"Ember? Can I come in?" Jason's identifiable voice rang through my ears.

I was quiet for a while, but then I finally said, "No. Get out of my life."