I’ve had poor eyesight ever since I was a child, so I’ve always worn glasses. When I was older, I switched to contact lenses, but there were still times Id pop out to walk my dog or nip to the shop and forget themor simply couldnt be bothered to wear them. Thats exactly what happened on that unforgettable evening. I rushed out for a quick shop, dashed out the front door, hurried down the stairs from my flat on the fifth floor (we havent got a lift), and only then realised Id left my glasses behind. Too lazy to climb back up all those stairs, I decided to carry on without them.
I found myself standing by the tins of fish at the local Tesco, badgering the cashier endlessly with questions about what type of fish was in each tin and what it was preserved in. When the cashier moved on to help someone else, I turned to a girl standing nearby. As I looked at her, I found something oddly familiar about her figureshe had her hair up in a messy bun that looked like little horns, a big red scarf, and a long black coat
“Would you mind telling me which one is mackerel in tomato sauce?” I asked politely.
Wed been in separate forms at school. I remembered her vividly because she had such a unique style and the teachers were always telling her off about her painted nails.
“This is the mackerel you want,” she replied a bit formally. “Anything else?”
“Sorry, Ive left my glasses at home and cant see a thing,” I admitted.
So we wandered round the shop together. I brought up some of our old teachers; she nodded and laughed at a few of my stories. After shopping, I suggested we sit outside for a bit, taking in the crisp autumn air, or maybe have a cup of tea or coffee and chat some more. She told me she worked at a veterinary clinic, which surprised meI’d never pictured her in that line of work. We swapped phone numbers and spoke about meeting up again sometime.
Back home, once Id finally put my glasses back on, I read the message shed sent me five minutes after wed parted ways.
“Sorry for fibbingI wasnt actually in your form. I was in Form A at another school. But if you dont mind, perhaps we could have that coffee together sometime. My treat.”
Of course, I didnt turn her down. We met again and, honestly, I couldnt take my eyes off hershe was even lovelier than the girl Id remembered from school.
We started seeing each other, and now we go out regularly. Sometimes she teases me, asking if my eyesight is really that dreadful or if I was just flirting. But I know shes joking. Looking back, it felt like fate was leading me by the handits funny how sometimes, a small accident can turn into a wonderful new beginning.
Sometimes, it takes losing sight for a moment to truly see the opportunities life places in front of us.
