My eyes opened only to reveal the truth, I was blind. Stumbling off of my bed, I manage to find my way to the kitchen. I was now living in a world of darkness. Why did it have to be me that was the victim of such a horrible accident? The doctors told me I was lucky to live and that just being blind was a best case scenario, but now, it feels like my life is falling apart. Everything now became a struggle to get used to. Everything that seems easy to someone with sight now felt impossible. I felt, so helpless. I've been going to lessons to learn how to cope with being blind but they don't seem to be working. I was just lost. I was so independent too. Insisting I could manage alone.

My pity was broken when I heard my door open and slam shut. I knew who it was right away.

"Germany! I am here to help!"

I sighed deeply. Italy is the only other country who knows that I'm blind. He insists on helping me even though I told him not to.

"Leave at once Italy I told you to stay away." To my annoyance, he didn't leave and to my shock. He sounded serious for once.

"No! Germany, you need my help. Being blind is not something you can cope with by yourself. You have helped me for so long I think it is only fair that I help you!"

I don't know if I admired his stubbornness, or just plain gave up.

"Fine, you can help Italy just please don't break anything." I sigh knowing I would regret this. I felt a strong tug on my arm.

"Come on Germany, first I will teach you how to cook!"

This was not good. I don't think anyone with any kind of eye problems should be near a hot stove but knowing that Italy would whine if I didn't listen, I reluctantly followed him.

I heard Italy going through my fridge and pulling out some things that sounded like they were made of glass.

"First I will teach you to recognise each ingredient by how they feel. Hold each thing and see if you can tell what it is."

I listen to him and pick up a plastic bottle with curves for holding it and a built in flip on cap.

"Mustard?" I guessed out loud.

"Yes!" Italy shouted a little bit too loudly. I grabbed another container; this one was made of glass and had a cylinder shape with a long neck.

"Soy sauce?" I guessed.

"No." Italy said back.

"Taste it to find out." I reluctantly flipped the cap back and poured a drop of the stuff on my finger then licked it. Nothing happened at first, but suddenly my mouth was on fire! I felt around for the sink and as soon as I found it turned it on and drank straight from the faucet,

After my mouth was no longer on fire I whipped my head back and shouted at Italy.

"Tabasco sauce!?" he again was too cheery.

"Good job Germany." I tried to storm out of the room but I slammed into the kitchen wall. I found myself sitting on the kitchen floor not having the motivation to get up. I am so ashamed of myself for it, but I actually started crying.

"Germany, what is wrong?" Italy sounded worried. I needed to tell someone and Italy already knew I was blind so I decided to tell him everything.

"Becoming blind has put a huge dent in my life Italy; I can no longer to even simple things without someone helping me. I earned a reputation of being independent and being able to do things on my own. Now I can't even cook properly. It is just not fair."

I finally said it. All the things that bugged me about going blind and it felt good to have it off my chest. I waited for Italy's reply. He just patted my back.

"I'm so proud of you for admitting it." He tells me. I could feel myself blushing. Then I felt a hand go through my hair.

"You messed your hair up when you drank from the faucet. Let me fix it for you." His hands went through my hair pulling it out of my face. I blushed even harder.

"There, much better." He said as he stopped touching my hair. I felt it myself and Italy did a good job putting it the way I like.

"It is almost lunch now so I will make us something." He said as we both got up off the floor. I stumbled into the living room and just started to lie on the couch. After becoming blind, I lost motivation to work out. I tried to fall asleep again but by going blind my hearing was sharpened. So I could hear every thing Italy was doing in the kitchen. It sounded like he was making pasta, which really wasn't abnormal. I tried ignoring the sounds but I just couldn't. I gave up. Sitting up I grab the remote and start flipping through channels. I came across a nature program that talked about bats. I changed it after hearing that bats have good sight, they just choose to use echolocation to find their prey.

"Lucky things." I mutter under my breath. I had read somewhere that blind humans could learn echolocation by clicking their tongue and listening to the echo, but they said it took a long time to learn and there was no one within one thousand miles of where I lived that taught how to use it. Italy called me to the table and made me sit down. I felt around for a fork but just ended up knocking it onto the floor. I got off my chair and started searching for it but I felt Italy's hand on my shoulder.

"I'll give you my fork." He whispers. I sit back down and awkwardly start eating the pasta Italy had made. There were times during the meal that I didn't have any pasta on my fork and still bit down almost breaking my teeth. Other times there was too much on the fork and I almost choked. What should have been a fifteen minute lunch turned into a forty five minute food struggle. Italy took the plates away while I just returned to the couch. Another program was on. It was about how dolphins sleep with one eye open to keep aware of enemies.

"So that's where the expression comes from." I tell myself, but I change the channel after hearing that dolphins also use echolocation. My blindness has really affected my life. I can no longer be independent like I used to be, even if it means relying on Italy. I will have a whole different life for as long as I'll live. Perhaps this will strengthen the bond I share with Italy? Only time will tell.