Hi, I'm back. With another fairly short chapter. :) I'm kind of new to this... so... Well, enjoy!

CHAPTER 2

I stood back up from the table to inform Milba I was going out for a walk and would need Munchy the guide dog to come with me. Honestly, Munchy was the only thing here that could bring me to smile, even just a small smile. People say dogs are a man's best friend, and Munchy was mine, or something close to it.

"Come on, Munchy!" The golden retriever brushed itself against my leg. The touch of his fur was always comforting and reassuring, providing a sense of companionship. Milba placed the leash in my outreached hand. "Have a good walk, Austin," she said.

The walk was pleasant, as the warm summer breeze and Munchy's company were completely satisfactory. At times I would come to a halt in the midst of walking and take the time to breathe, trying to familiarize myself with the smell, the touch, and every other sensory detail not visual, of my surroundings. Sometimes I would imagine how things looked - how the trees stood, the color of the sky, the flora and fauna. As I walked, suddenly I felt someone approach me.

"Excuse me. Are you from Eastfront Residence for the Blind?" the stranger asked.

"Yes," I curtly replied.

"Are you on your way back?"

"Yeah," I nodded.

"Would you mind if I walked with you? I'm going to visit my grandpa who was recently admitted there, and I'm not really sure where it is. If you don't mind, I'll just follow you and find my way," the stranger responded. She was young, I could tell by her voice, and sounded utterly polite. Surprised by her request, I nodded slightly, and continued walking. After a few minutes of silence, I heard her voice pipe up.

"How old are you?"

"Seventeen."

"Me too! Being so young... have you been blind since you were born then?"

I flinched at the question and let out a grimace, rudely snapping, "Enough with the questions. Let me walk in peace."

With that, I continued forward, and the rest of the walk was silent except for the sound of her footsteps, mine, and the jingling of Munchy's collar.


When we arrived at Eastfront, the stranger quietly thanked me and left. Reflecting over my recent actions, I had realized something. I had come close to possibly becoming acquainted with someone, but of course, I blew my chance. I made it uncomfortable, I was rude, and I was distant. Maybe if I had been more welcome and polite, I would have wound up with someone to talk to. You're worthless, I tell you, worthless! I thought to myself. Shaking off these feelings of self-hatred, I reminded myself, It's alright. Maybe it's better just to keep to myself. They all end up hating me anyway.

Making my way to my usual spot, I heard a familiar voice. It was the stranger's.

"Grandpa! It's me, Ally!"

"Ally, you rascal, is that you? Where are you? I can't find you!" an elderly man's voice croaked on my right.

"Here I am, Gramps." Her voice suddenly on my right side, the approximate area from where I heard the old man's voice. "It's so wonderful to see you! How are you liking it here?"

"Well... they treat me alright," he sighed.

"You know... I almost regret having you live here. If Mom, Dad, and I weren't so busy with school and work and such, I'd do anything to let you stay with us," she sighed sadly.

"Don't worry about it. It's only been a day or two. Plus, I hear there's a young gentleman here who's about your age. If anything, I could find company in him when you're not here."

I heard her let out a surprised gasp. "Oh! I think I just met him a bit earlier. He helped me find my way here. I followed him while he was on his way back from a walk."

"Well, how was he? Was he nice?" her grandpa inquired.

"Uhm... well... maybe he was in a bad mood... It seemed as if he was not quite up for a conversation. Maybe I was too blunt? I honestly don't know."

"Ah... Go. Go fetch him for me. I want to talk to him," her grandpa insisted.

"Gramps... I don't even know where he is!"

"Ask someone."

She let out an exasperated sigh, and her footsteps led her in a direction further away from me. I heard her inquiring for directions on where I was, then suddenly I felt her presence by my side. It took her quite a while to speak up. She must have thought that since I couldn't see her, I didn't know she was there, but I could clearly hear her shifting nervously from foot to foot.

"Uhh... Excuse me. Hi. It's me from earlier," the girl, Ally I think her name was, spoke.

My sightless eyes looked in her direction, and I gave her a curt nod.

"I, um, well, I'm sorry. If I offended you in any way," she murmured, suddenly shy.

I sighed and rested my head on the table in front of me, shaking my head.

"Okay... well, listen, my grandpa would like to talk to you, so if you could please follow me..." I heard her footsteps leading her away. However, I sat in my seat awkwardly, not knowing what direction to take, still not used to walking without guidance.

I didn't know what to say, so I sat until she noticed. Her head must have turned back, for she murmured, "Excuse me? My grandpa would like to talk to you. I'm not sure what for, but please, follow me."

After waiting for several moments, realization must have hit her. "Ah... I'm sorry. You can... take my arm..." she nearly whispered, and moments later I felt her arm by my hand. She awkwardly placed my hand onto the crook of her arm, and began walking.

It was odd, being led like this by a young girl, my age. Her presence was unusually warm and reassuring.
We had reached her grandfather when she suddenly stopped walking, releasing her arm from my grasp, and bringing a chair for me to sit on.

"Grandpa, here he is," she said.

I heard her grandfather clear his throat, and then speak, "Hello. How do you do?"

"Fine. And you?"

"Fine, thank you for asking. So I heard you helped my granddaughter find her way here. Let me first thank you for that."

I grunted in acknowledgement.

"Tell me then, boy, what is your name?"

"Austin."

"Austin... call me sir, for now. How long have you been resident here?"

"Four years, sir."

"And what could have happened? Were you always blind?" he asked, curiosity evident in his voice. The question irked me. Ally, his granddaughter seemed to take notice, for I heard her let out a slight sigh. She must have remembered the previous incident, when she had asked me the same question.

"The question is a bit personal," I replied.

"Okay... Anyhow, Austin, I would like to get to know you better. You see, I'm not one to get along with people my age. Without Ally, my granddaughter, I wouldn't be acquainted with anyone. I hope you can maybe act as a grandson figure for me while Ally is not present."

Ally piped, "Gramps! You're so straightforward... Ah... you don't have to ask him to do this! I'll visit you often enough!"

Her grandfather chuckled, "Ally, I'll leave this for Austin to decide." He yawned suddenly and said, "I'm tired. Ally, go ask one of the nurses to wheel me in for a nap."

She did as her grandfather said and then returned to my side, which I wasn't expecting.

"... Okay then... I apologize for his straightforward request... I hope this isn't too uncomfortable for you... Let's start off with names. My name is Ally, if you haven't figured that out already."

I smirked. This girl was truly insistent on talking to me, wasn't she? "Your grandpa is interesting."

"I hope you don't mean that in a negative way," she uttered.

I didn't know what else to say afterwards.

It got awkward. Fast.

"I, uh, nice meeting you! Um, bye! See you around!" Ally left, and her feet quickly shuffled across the floor away from me.

Goddamnit, Austin. Why didn't you say anything?

I felt a sudden cold air surrounding me after her departure, but I shook off the feeling.

Thanks for reading. Please review! :3