When you're blind,

you can't be scared

of the dark.

At least that's what my therapist, Kathy, says.

But in fact, that isn't true.

I'm terrified of the dark.

It traps me.

In this unknown, senseless world.

Well, not completely senseless.

I still have

My ears

My nose

My mouth

My fingers

But I lack what others depend on most:

Sight.

The accident was subject to a drunk driver and a ten ton semi truck.

I was in the Ballwin Days Spring Parade.

On a magnificent float of historic Indian culture.

Me? I was a Native American girl. I was the only one on the float. Sorraia helped me make it.

Dressed in fine deer skin smooth and soft as a rabbit.

Complete with the feathers of the red tailed hawk in my hair.

In one long single braid plaited against my back. Like a tail.

I would "princess wave" to everyone.

And throw candy to the little children, on the side of the road, who would grab more candy, even thought their parents said not too.

And then there were the rest of my school mates, seated by class in the long strip of grass by the road.

Sorraia was in the middle, smiling.

It was beautiful,

It was perfect.

Until that damn semi truck came careening off the road straight into my float.

I remember the last thing I ever saw was the big metal nose of that truck.

I was flung into the air. My body twisted in mid air.

My head landed with a sickening crunch on the curb the next street down.

Pain exploded and the last thing I heard was Sorraia screaming my name.

Lily!