Darkness is not “my old friend.”
Blindness has always been my biggest fear.
While going deaf would be upsetting –
I love music and can’t imagine living without it –
I would still hear music in my head.
Total darkness seems terrifying to me.
My vision has been poor most of my life.
I got my first pair of glasses at eight.
At every checkup after that I needed stronger correction.
The possibility of losing my vision altogether seemed very real.
Cataract surgery means I can now see flawlessly.
But the middle of the night, house pitch black,
can still unnerve me.
Darkness is not "my old friend."
RetroFlash / 100 words
Suzy
Characterizations:
moving, well written
A great song-inspired title, but an even greater song-inspired (and prompt-inspired) first line. It really captures your darkest fear.
And you have used RetroFlash perfectly here. You’ve identified that fear and shared it with us and there is really nothing more that needs to be said. Darkness in both its literal and metaphorical sense.
And great featured image, BTW.
Thanks, John. As you recognized, I got to make two different song references with this story, because of the prompt title. Kind of fun! The featured image is Pink Floyd’s album cover, so it matches the title of my story. Hope they don’t see it and demand I take it down as a copyright violation.
I hadn’t realized the connection between the song and the album cover. When I think of Pink Floyd, I just think of walls.
Suzy, I didn’t know about your vision problems, and yes indeed cataract surgery is a godsend, both my husband and I had both our eyes operated on years ago.
The morning after his first surgery he looked at the blue and white breakfast dishes we’d had for years and said, “ I never knew the blue was so blue!”
And brava for Flashing your story.
I like the Flash format, and it was especially useful here, because I didn’t have that much to say.
Yes I like it too, hope to use it more!
Cataract surgery did not provide perfect vision for me because much of my trouble is caused by over 30 years of dry eye. I am thrilled that you have perfect vision now, Suzy. What a miracle! I will get my first pair of hearing aids on Tuesday, though I only have hearing loss for certain sound waves. It hasn’t impacted my singing at all.
I completely understand your feelings about being in the dark. I agree, it feels terrifying.
Glad you agree with me about the dark. It’s not so bad in my own house, but when I am walking somewhere else, I am always afraid I am going to trip over something.
I understand, Suzy. I have a really difficult time when outside, walking in the dark and take mincing little steps. We’ve already discussed driving in the dark!
You must know that Helen Keller felt conversely: if given either sight or hearing back, she would have chosen hearing–to finally hear the voices of the people with whom she communicated, as well as the music, the wind, the rain, etc.
Like you, I got stronger lenses each year, beginning in grade 2, but I am relieved to say it never occurred to me I would lose it all. Like you as well, I got fully corrected in 2018 (with intraocular lenses to treat cataracts) and now I don’t even carry around a pair of reading glasses! Amazing!
Your final line is chilling.
I didn’t know about Helen Keller’s choice. She had not experienced either sense since she was a toddler, so I wonder what she remembered, if anything, from that time. Re people with whom I communicate, I think it would matter more to me to see their faces than to hear their voices.
Brava, Suzy! I think there’s something to be said about exposing our fears to the light and in doing so rendering them powerless. I think we’re all afraid of the dark to some degree. I still remind myself, “It’s exactly the same out there as it is in the daylight.” But of course it’s harder to navigate, and to be seen.
I have to say that I love that this prompt has given us a safe forum for speaking about our fears, the darkness. I worried that it would be depressing; instead, it’s uplifting!
Thanks for your comment, Barb, as well as for your encouragement when I was unsure about posting this story. I like your line about exposing our fears to the light and rendering them powerless. That’s a good motto to live by.
I love the darkness, fear, and optimism in this RetroFlash all at once, Suzy. Most of us have experienced the miracle of vision restored with cataract surgery. As someone who also has hearing issues, I vote with you that losing sight would be scarier because I use my sight to look at people talking for better listening comprehension. Creative and moving response to this prompt.
Thank you, Marian. I’m glad I conveyed darkness, fear, and optimism to you. And I’m also happy to know that you agree that losing sight would be scarier. As you point out, sight can help you hear better when you look at people talking. I don’t think hearing could help you see better.
I have to agree with those who commented that cataract surgery is a blessing. Still, there is something fearful about complete darkness. I need those little night lights to feel safe, both physically and emotionally. Great use of RetroFlash.
Thanks, Laurie. Glad to hear that you share my fear of complete darkness, and that you use little night lights to feel safe.
Loved your use of the flash medium here. In its confines you still brought important impressions and a great deal of personal energy forward.
Jose Saramago wrote a stunning dystopian novel titled “Blindness,” but I wouldn’t recommend you read it!
Thanks for your comment, and also for the recommendation of a book not to read! I’ll be sure not to read it. 🙂