After Chutang woke up, her vision was still pitch black.
This made it impossible for her to distinguish between dream and reality.
She thought she was still tied up.
She didn't know she was crying, only repeatedly, as if in a dream, she pleaded:
"Let me die, let me die..."
"Take all the money, just let me die..."
Let me die.
"Hey, what's wrong? Having a nightmare?"
That ethereal voice sounded again, "Weren't you just swindled? Just get rid of her, why are you acting like you want to die?"
"..."
Chutang opened her mouth, tears still streaming down her face.
She suddenly became quiet.
Never before had she felt so fortunate to have auditory hallucinations.
A tiny flicker of joy even arose within her because of this.
Because she could now distinguish,
Which was the dream, and which was reality.
Although reality... wasn't much better.
...
Although it was just a dream,
Some thoughts, once they arise, can never be erased.
Chutang recalled those moments she found strange before, even having the illusion that she was being monitored.
In the following days, she showed no abnormality.
Eating, sleeping, zoning out as usual.
Until the weekend, when a friend came to visit her.
Asking if she wanted to go out for a walk.
She said, "Okay."
The nanny wanted to follow, but the friend refused, "I'll be with her, you can go back."
Chutang's nerves were taut,
Only when the two of them arrived outside, feeling the breeze and the scent of plants in the air,
Did she tightly grasp her friend's hand, as if clinging to a lifeline:
"I don't want the nanny anymore, I don't want the nanny!"
The friend was surprised at first, then asked with concern, "What's wrong, did something happen?"
Chutang wanted to tell her, but feared these were just her own oversensitivity.
Because she was so uneasy.
Ever since she lost her sight, she felt as if the whole world was targeting her.
"I... I..."
"Why are you hesitating, say it!"
The ethereal voice was very displeased, "If you don't say it, you'll wait for her to sell you out!"
What if...
It's just my imagination?
Chutang eventually spoke out.
Because she didn't want to face someone who deceived her every day anymore.
She didn't want to worry every night if the other person would suddenly lash out and harm her.
She even...
Every night after locking her door, she wondered,
If Aunt Wang was always in her bedroom,
Watching her, monitoring her,
And had never left...
She was going crazy.
"I'd rather live alone, I can learn myself, learn to cook, to do laundry..."
She held her friend's hand tightly, "It's like closing your eyes, didn't we used to play dares like this!"
"It's actually very simple, I don't trip anymore when I walk by myself, really..."
"Don't let her stay at my place anymore, don't let her monitor me anymore..."
She begged, her voice choked with sobs.
Completely unaware of how disheveled and humble she looked at that moment.
Her response,
Was her friend's embrace and choked voice.
"Tangtang... don't be afraid, don't be afraid..."
"It's my fault, it's all my fault..."
...
Friends forever.
It's a beautiful phrase.
But in reality, everyone has their own lives.
Work, boyfriends, family.
Even if they had once said, "If you lose your job, I'll support you." "Call me anytime if you need anything, I'll be there."
In reality, it's impossible.
Or rather, not very realistic.
Both in terms of expenses and personal time...
It's not very realistic.
Everyone also has their own dreams, their own goals to strive for.
If one's life is delayed because of someone,
Then the friendship that began will eventually turn into resentment and hatred.
Moreover,
Chutang was now a helpless person who couldn't be left alone.
She didn't want to trouble her friends,
And she didn't want to reach a point where,
All the beautiful memories turned into aversion upon meeting.
But now, she truly had no other choice.
She didn't know what to do anymore.
At this moment, she didn't even have the luxury to think about the future.
Because the future,
Was unseen.
...
Chutang didn't ask her friend what she had done for her.
All the moving arrangements were handled by her friend.
She just silently reminded herself that she had to learn to be independent.
Independent in her blindness.
She had to learn how to live when she was alone.
So she asked her friend to take her out and help her cook.
Trying again and again.
Constantly forcing herself, yet adapting to this 'new' world.
Then, when her friend went to work,
She mustered the courage to go out and buy groceries alone, and then cook at home.
During this process,
That ethereal voice would also appear from time to time, saying a few words.
"Hey, hey, you're going the wrong way. Look carefully... pay attention to where the tactile paving is!"
"Your wallet is about to be stolen, quickly hit to your rear right."
"Pole! Pole! There's a railing ahead!"
Bang!
Chutang didn't have time to react, and her forehead hit something.
She gasped in pain, crouched down clutching her forehead, unable to make a sound.
Then she heard that voice start cursing.
"Damn it! Who put a metal pole here!"
"Occupying the public tactile paving, you'll be struck by lightning..."
For some reason,
As Chutang listened, she felt less distressed.
At least...
She hadn't stepped into a sewer yet, right?
With her friend's help,
As Chutang adapted, she gradually regained her confidence.
Even without sight, it seemed she could still do many things.
That ethereal voice even listed many professions that blind people could do:
"Look at those massage therapists, psychological counselors, and what about that 'blind men and the elephant' thing, tuners..."
"Oh right, I see you have many awards and musical instruments at home, why don't you return to your original profession."
What the heck was 'blind men and the elephant'?
Chutang thought with a chuckle.
However,
Returning to her original profession...
She subconsciously raised her hand and touched her eyes.
"Instruments don't use eyes, as long as your hands and ears are good, it's fine."
That voice retorted, "What about Da Vinci? Beethoven? They became musicians even when they were deaf!"
Chutang: "..."
That was Beethoven.
...
Dong~~~
The guitar strings were plucked, producing a melodious sound.
Touching the guitar her friend had helped her get, Chutang's previous timidity suddenly disappeared.
That sense of familiarity was surprisingly reassuring.
Even...
Her fingers itched.
Her hearing was also surprisingly sharp, even more so than before.
Chutang skillfully tuned the guitar and then played a piece casually.
It was very smooth.
The world she had lost seemed to be returning bit by bit.
"Tangtang!"
Her friend hugged her excitedly.
Her voice choked with emotion, she held Chutang's body, still trembling slightly.
...