Over the next two weeks, my vision kept getting better. Slowly. A little bit every day.
Everything was still blurry. Like looking through a shower door. But I could tell the couch from the coffee table. I could see the big shapes of things. I could tell when somebody walked through the room.
I could see the color of the sky. Gray, mostly. It was Portland in September.
Every day I practiced hiding it.
When Ashton came home, I kept my eyes soft and unfocused. I kept using my cane. I kept reaching for things the way I had for two years, slowly, sliding my hand across the counter.
It was harder than I thought it would be. Pretending to be blind when you’re starting to see is like pretending not to hear music.
And every day, I planned the moment.
I was going to wait until I could see his face clearly. Then I was going to make his favorite dinner, chicken parmesan, and light candles, and when he sat down across from me, I was going to look him dead in the eye and say, “You need a haircut.”
I used to laugh to myself just thinking about it.
But the closer I got to that moment, the further away Ashton seemed to get.
Now that I could see shapes, I started noticing things I hadn’t been able to notice before.
Ashton sitting at the dining room table at eleven o’clock at night with his head in his hands.
Ashton standing in the backyard in the dark, on his phone, pacing back and forth by the fence.
Ashton staring at me across the living room for a long time while I pretended not to know he was there.
I couldn’t see his expression. Only the shape of him, sitting very still, looking at me.
It scared me in a way I couldn’t explain.
Then came that Tuesday night.
Lila Hart is a dedicated Digital Archivist and Research Specialist with a keen eye for preserving and curating meaningful content. At TheArchivists, she specializes in organizing and managing digital archives, ensuring that valuable stories and historical moments are accessible for generations to come.
Lila earned her degree in History and Archival Studies from the University of Edinburgh, where she cultivated her passion for documenting the past and preserving cultural heritage. Her expertise lies in combining traditional archival techniques with modern digital tools, allowing her to create comprehensive and engaging collections that resonate with audiences worldwide.
At TheArchivists, Lila is known for her meticulous attention to detail and her ability to uncover hidden gems within extensive archives. Her work is praised for its depth, authenticity, and contribution to the preservation of knowledge in the digital age.
Driven by a commitment to preserving stories that matter, Lila is passionate about exploring the intersection of history and technology. Her goal is to ensure that every piece of content she handles reflects the richness of human experiences and remains a source of inspiration for years to come.