--The entirety of this story, including, but not limited to, the scenario / plot, the characters, and the writing itself, is completely original, and was written by no one other than myself (unless otherwise stated).--

--Another short story for the weekly fic competition. This week's prompt was 'Blindness'.--

-

It was a day like any other.

The air was quiet; serene in its simplicity. Sunlight streamed in through your uncovered window, accompanied by the warm scent of summer and laughing of spirited children. Our apartment overlooked a playground; a green speck of mandatory haven forced between two buildings, surrounded by cemented paths and trees of metal.

Instead of drawing inspiration, your camera sits untouched high upon the shelf, the layers of dust indication of its many idle years. Your photographs still hang as framed visions on these walls: ironic reminders of a world you once knew, still lifes of a world you were once famous for.

Oh, how I wish you could see it.

I turn back and watch you, unmoving in your seat. The table in front of you is cleared, save for a rotary telephone and the old wallet photo you always rest your hand upon. You drum your fingers and puff on your pipe, hearing stubbornly attentive, almost in expectance of a spontaneous sound.

You’re waiting for that call, but we both know the phone won’t ring for you.

You’re facing the window, now; those glasses you wear shielding your eyes from the world as the world has been shielded from yours. Although this disease has stolen your vision, its graceless darkness has not taken away your light; you still seem to have faith in humankind. You still believe they love you, those people you call your ‘family’, and falsely assume they wouldn’t be cruel enough to leave us here to rot.

You’re blind in more ways than one, old man.

Eventually, you’ll rise to your feet and lift my leash off the hook by the front door, clipping it onto my collar and patting me on the head while whispering it’s time to go. And still I’ll follow. I always will, for it’s the time we spend together that binds us.

I’ll be your eyes if you’ll be my friend. I’ll be your guide if you’ll stay my ally.

I trust it won’t be long until you see it. You used to mean something to this world, but time has withered your reputation down to nothing, as you wind up just the same. Just another elder sitting in a park. Just another blind person walking his dog.

It’s you and me left in this life, old man.

The rest of the world can wait.