Don't let them know you can see

2

Lost in thought, the doorbell's chime startled me. I rose, feigning difficulty, intending to answer the door. Ethan dashed ahead, insisting, "Honey, let me get that. It's hard for you to see, right?" Opening the door, Sophie stood there. Throughout the five years of my blindness, she was the only friend who frequently visited.

With Ethan present, I had no choice but to continue my act, feigning curiosity, "Babe, who is it?" Ethan didn't reply immediately; instead, he ushered Sophie in, and no sooner had the door closed than they were wrapped in an embrace, their lips meeting. Shocked, I suppressed my anger and betrayal, pretending to inquire again, "Babe, who was it?"

Hearing me, they reluctantly parted. Ethan glared at me before cheerfully saying, "Honey, it's Sophie. You were just talking about her the other day. You two must really be on the same wavelength." Sophie, flirting, caressed Ethan's chest, eliciting a sharp intake of breath from him. Their eyes locked, and with a seductive lick of her lips, Sophie intensified the moment. Unable to resist, Ethan leaned in, fondling her, as she bit her lip, moaning softly.

Devastated, yet unable to reveal my sight, I seized the moment to ask, "Sophie, are you okay?" Sophie shot Ethan a look, halting his wandering hands, and glanced my way before responding, "I'm fine, just bumped into the wall."

Not wanting to witness any more of their flirtation, I pretended to be anxious and fumbled towards the door, "Sophie, are you sure you're okay?" Seeing me approach, they quickly separated. Ethan blocked my path, roughly guiding me with a gentle tone, "Honey, be careful. You can't see; you might fall. Let me help you."

Before I could respond, Ethan pulled me away, while Sophie cunningly placed a stool in our path. Ethan sidestepped it without warning me. Foreseeing the trap, I reluctantly moved forward. As expected, I tripped, falling to the ground in pain, my lips whitening. Ethan, amused by my fall, feigned concern, "Honey, did you fall? Are you hurt? I'm so sorry, I should have watched the path for you."

Sophie, with a teasing touch on Ethan's forehead, stepped back, pretending to rush to my aid, "Shannon, how did you fall? Ethan, knowing Shannon can't see, couldn't you be more careful?" My heart turned cold, remembering the frequent stumbles and falls during my blindness.