Chap 1
It's dark, my world is always dark; since I was born blind there's nothing I can do about it. Everyone in town knows me, but they don't accept me. Since we live in such a small town most folks believe that if you can't work on the fields you might as well be dead.; for them I'm just a dead weight, just another mouth they need to feed. Sometimes when I go outside alone, the little children throw rocks at me and if I'm lucky enough my big brother Lovino might be around working and he would cuss at the children and make them leave me alone for the rest of the day or the week. Even though I can't see, my dream has always been to be an artist putting my dreams on a canvas and letting other people see what I cannot, but even I can understand that being an artist is an impossible dream for a blind man. I love to cook, but if I'm not careful I might burn the pasta my family loves so much. I do as much as I can around the house or outside, sometimes I even get the chance to help pick up tomatoes or water our little garden. When grandpa is out working on the fields and brother is working around town I go out for walks. There's this beautiful road with an old wooden fence that leads to a field near our house. I do not know what it looks like but I do know there are a lot of flowers, trees and animals. I can smell the flowers, listen to the wind flow through the leaves of the trees and birds sing along with it; it is always quiet and empty, there are no children, no old mans complaining, and no pain, it's just me and the road. Today was one of those days when there was nothing to do and no one to talk to, so I decided to go walk around town a bit and then walk on that serene road with the wooden fence. I was walking peacefully around town, maybe near the bakery when I tripped over something. I fell to the ground and heard several laughs and giggles near me as a boy spoke. -what's the matter blind guy? Did you trip over your own foot?- they all laughed as if they were one. -you're alone now. Your big brother isn't near to save you! Oh my, where are my manners? Would you like a cold drink?!- as he finished his last sentence a shower of cold wine fell over me making a puddle of mud under my body. -What are you going to do now? Are you going to scream for your brother to help you?!- their mockery and laughter increased as I moved my head from side to side hoping for someone, anyone to help me but it all seemed in vain. Someone pushed me down and they all started kicking me and laughing as I tried to protect myself. But then a strong and commanding voice broke their laughter. -Children! Vhat are you doing?!- he was someone new to this town, I knew the voice of every child, women, worker and old man of town and his voice was one I had never heard before, he had a German accent. The children gasped and they all ran away, I could hear their footsteps in all directions. I could also hear his steps and the crunching of the dirt as the owner of the voice got closer and stopped right in front of me, I heard the shuffling of clothes, he might be holding his hand out towards me. He spoke again but now in a soft and comforting tone -Are you alright? Vere you badly injured?- I shook my head and looked up even though I knew I wouldn't be able to see the face of my savior. A smile appeared on my face and I spoke -I am ok, thank you good sir. You are new in town am I right? I am terribly sorry you had to see such a thing, but there are some really good people on this town. My name is Feliciano Vargas and this isn't the first time I've been attacked by children but it was the first I was soaked in wine. Welcome to our town! Heh I guess it sounds strange coming from a man covered in mud that smells like wine- The stranger kept silent for a moment and then spoke, his voice was deep and warm -Um, it waz nothing. I am Ludwig Beilschmidt nize to meet you. And may I azk vhy thiz iz normal?- My smile disappeared and I lowered my head. -You see I am blind so I'm pretty much a dead weight on this town. As long as I can remember my world has always been dark. I can notice the change in light so I know when it's day or night but that's about it. By the way why did you decide to come to our town? Sorry if I'm causing you more trouble- Ludwig kept quiet and I heard some clothes shuffling, then I felt something fall over my shoulders and Ludwig pulled me up. He used so much strength I ended up bumping into his chest, he was big and very well built; i felt my heart skip a beat in his arms but I also felt protected -Vell firzt you need to ztand up, it muzt be cold right? You can vear that for now. And about vhy i decided to come here, I vill tell you if you allow me to ezcort you to your home- His response gave me a shock, but then I smiled and nodded. We walked toward my house and he explained his reasons for coming to this town, apparently he was a German novelist but he couldn't find any inspiration on the city where he was living so he decide to come to a house his family owned on this town. When he spoke about his dreams and his three dogs he had brought with him, he almost sounded like a little child when they talk about catching toads and bugs to their parents or like how Lovino would come to me some times when we were younger to tell me how brave he was; his stories would always end with him angry at me for being so excited about HIS adventures, I never understood the reason for his sudden anger after a time of joy. We reached my home and we had to depart but before going inside he promised to someday read me one of his novels, the mere thought of him reading to me his novels made my heart dance.