Janice’s heart raced every time Colin messaged her. They connected deeply, but she was hiding the truth\u2014she was blind. As their first date approached, fear gripped her. How long could she keep this secret?<\/p>\n
The soft glow of my screen lit up the room. Colin\u2019s message came through: \u201cLove is War is my favorite. What about you?\u201d<\/p>\n
I smiled and responded, \u201cGood choice. But I loved The Princess\u2019s Favorite<\/em>. I cried for hours at the end.\u201d<\/p>\n We\u2019d bonded over books, but I\u2019d never told him I was blind. Twice, he\u2019d asked to meet, and I made excuses. I wasn\u2019t ready to reveal my secret.<\/p>\n Colin messaged again: \u201cWait, you listen to books? I need to hold a book to enjoy it.\u201d<\/p>\n I froze. He didn\u2019t know. How could I hide my blindness?<\/p>\n I began to confess, but panicked and deleted the message. Instead, I kept it casual. But it was eating at me. I couldn\u2019t keep hiding this.<\/p>\n Then Colin sent another message: \u201cI have movie tickets. Want to join?\u201d<\/p>\n My heart raced. Could I really face him now?<\/p>\n I arrived early, practicing my route through the mall with my white cane, the fear still gnawing at me. What if he noticed?<\/p>\n When we met, I wore sunglasses to hide my eyes. \u201cMy eyes are sensitive to light,\u201d I explained.<\/p>\n The date continued, but I struggled to keep up. At the escalator, I panicked and asked for help. Colin didn\u2019t question it. But I couldn\u2019t keep lying.<\/p>\n During the movie, I fumbled for answers to his questions, hoping he wouldn\u2019t realize.<\/p>\n When the credits rolled, Colin called me out, asking why I hadn\u2019t looked at him all night. My heart sank. \u201cWhy are you lying?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n Tears welled up. \u201cColin, please\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n He stood up, walking away, leaving me in a panic. I stumbled out of the theater, calling his name.<\/p>\n A stranger helped me, but Colin was gone.<\/p>\n I collapsed on a bench, crying. Then I heard a voice.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re blind, aren\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n It was Colin. \u201cYes,\u201d I whispered.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy didn\u2019t you tell me?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI was scared. I didn\u2019t want to lose you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou wouldn\u2019t have,\u201d he said. \u201cBut lying almost did.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry. Can we start over?\u201d<\/p>\n He smiled faintly. \u201cNo more secrets?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDeal.\u201d For the first time, hope sparked inside me.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Janice’s heart raced every time Colin messaged her. They connected deeply, but she was hiding the truth\u2014she was blind. As their first date approached, fear gripped her. How long could she keep this secret? The soft glow of my screen lit up the room. Colin\u2019s message came through: \u201cLove is War is my favorite. What…<\/p>\n