About a boy named richard

Chapter 2

[Natalie]
When the boy looked up from the dusty pavement, his eyes looked straight into mine; and I thought, why can't I have such long beautiful eyelashes like him? And finally, for the first time, I knew what it looked like to have long and beautiful eyelashes. I knew what mother meant when she heaved a sigh of disappointment as she hovered over me, casting a shadow on my tiny self.

'As if it wasn’t bad enough. You haven't inherited any of my traits. Where are my almond-shaped eyes? Or my long curly lashes?'

That probably made her sound like she's very full of herself but, mother was a rather sensible person. Most of the time, she was very level-headed. So really, she wasn't being arrogant at all, but stating things as-a-matter-of-factly.

Sometimes, when I'm left on my own, I like to imagine what it would be like if I was pretty and if I wasn't blind. Then perhaps my existence wouldn't be such a great pain to mother. Perhaps she would like me a little more. Perhaps she would love me as she loved father. But I knew for sure that mother would never love anyone as much as she loved father. At least no longer.

But whether mother loves me or not isn’t really relevant. As I was saying, the boy had such beautiful lashes I stood in awe frozen on the spot for a few brief moments. Then I realized that he must be French, since my old school teacher always told me that French men had the longest and loveliest eyelashes.


Maybe it was because I had never seen anything so clearly all my life before; my eyes started to tear so I rubbed them gently with the back of my hand.

Then I felt a warm grip on my wrist and when I looked up I saw the French boy standing in front of me, his eyes worried. His hand was very big, much bigger than mine; but his grip was not rough but one of gentle concern

Then, as if to ask, are you all right? He cocked his head slightly to one side and raised his eyebrows.

'I'm alright,' I stammered.

He patted my head gently and smiled warmly at me. Then he helped me as we sat down on the curbside. It felt weird because it was almost as if I wasn't blind because I could see him so clearly and also because either he didn't seem to mind that I was blind, or that he didn't notice.

The boy told me that his name was Richard.
And I was happy.

[Richard]

I imagine Natalie would never know why I helped her on the pavement that day. I never got to tell her. She left so suddenly, so abruptly, just as autumn leaves silently and winter comes to take its place. And all that was left for me was a chilly cold. I was devoid of feelings; devoid of thoughts; devoid of emotions. It is beautiful to say that God created Eve from a bone from Adam, and that she makes him complete. Natalie made me complete. But since I bade her to leave me, I will forever be short of that one special bone that makes me complete.

Natalie was a girl of gentle nature. She disliked having to hurt others for her own benefit. But in a similar manner, she would protect those she loved from anyone who would hurt them. She was one tough cookie.

But she was also very young, very naïve and rather gullible. Years after we met, she told me, on a Sunday afternoon, that she once thought I was French! Because I had the longest and loveliest eyelashes she had ever seen! Oh, you should have seen the way I roared with laughter and the way she blushed like a ripe tomato. She was also young, not in terms of age, but in the way she related to people. Had she not trusted me so easily, maybe she would have led a happier life.

Me? I am a fool. And a liar. But Natalie chose to believe me. And I used her.

Many a times I did things knowing that they would hurt her. I broke her heart time and time again, but she forgave me. I knew it was extremely painful for her that afternoon in the library when I approached her.

There she was, sitting by the window, her fingers running across the Braille on the book, her laughter echoing throughout the room. The sun was a shy and gentle maiden, playing about the clouds. I knew it would be difficult to tell her. I knew it would hurt her. But I told her.

Her face fell. She looked away from me for a brief moment, then when she turned around; her face was one of pure joy for me, and not a tear-streaked face. I knew she was putting up a brave front. I asked her if she would like to be the bridesmaid. She said she was delighted.

Satisfied, I turned and left. I didn't want to see her cry.

But Natalie would never know that I never did get married.
Natalie would never know that I only ever loved her.