Blind Date Part 1

She stared at me, her clear blue eyes open wide as she slowly and carefully explored my facial features with her fingers. She paused at my lips, running her finger slowly along my bottom lip, sending shivers of sensation through me. Her hand slid through my tousled brown hair, tugging slightly as her hands slid towards my neck. When she looked at you with those turquoise eyes, you felt as though she was staring into your soul, every time our eyes met I felt frozen to the spot, as though I was under her spell. But I knew I wasn't, may never be, because you see my girlfriend is different, while I can admire every inch of her, she was doomed to never know what I look like, what she looks like, you see my girlfriend, while beautiful, is blind.

'So....what do you think?' Lily asked, swirling round in a midnight blue dress, with tiny diamond detailing standing out against the dark fabric, like tiny stars shining brightly in the night sky. She took my pause the wrong way, 'You don't like it?' she stated, her face falling as she slid her hands across the silky fabric trying to build a mental image of her dress.
'No, Lily I didn't respond because I was so taken back by how beautiful you look. I can't wait to take you to prom.' I explained. Her golden hair fanned out around her face, making it look like she had a halo surrounding her. The corners of her lips tugged up into a smile, 'Your just saying that.' she grinned, still rubbing the fabric between her finger tips. 'Say it again' I challenged, but before she could utter a word, I took her face in my hands and kissed her softly, 'Say it again' I whispered. 'You don't mean it!' she squealed pulling away from me. I quickly caught her around her waist, pulling her back close to me. 'I love you Lily.' I whispered before I realized what I was saying, but as soon as the words left my lips I knew that I meant them, all of them. Her mouth formed an O shape, her eyes blinking rapidly as they pooled with tears. 'I love you too Ethan.'

Our portly school secretary peeked her head around the door during our Latin lesson, bringing the monotonous Mr Lambert to a blessed quiet. 'Sorry to interrupt, but could I steal Lily from you for just a short while.' she said meekly, receiving a firm nod from Mr Lambert before he began to drone on once more about the importance of tenses. I could see that Lily's face had gone very pale as imagined all of the worst case scenarios that could be waiting for her on the other side of the door. As the secretary guided Lily towards the door, passing my desk, I reached out and touched her hand so that she would know that whatever lay beyond the door , I would be there to help her. She smiled, knowing the meaning behind my simple gesture and slipped out of the door.
I couldn't concentrate for the rest of the lesson as I worried about what was taking Lily so long, I wanted to run out of the classroom, and find her, taking her in my arms and protecting her from everything around us.

I sighed in relieve as I heard my name echo out of the school speakers, 'Ethan Blake please can you make your way to the head mistress' office. Thank you.' I stood up abruptly, looking at Mr Lambert for permission and then ran towards the head mistress' office where I knew Lily would be waiting.
She sat in the waiting room with her head hung low, I quickly pulled her close to me, begging for her to share her troubles. She looked up at me with unseeing eyes, 'Mum came in, she said she's been talking to the doctors and there is an operation that could help restore my sight.' she said emotionlessly. 'What!...Lily that's great news!' I burst out, but the tortured look in her eyes told me I had said the wrong thing. 'Lily whats wrong?' I asked quietly, rubbing her back in soothing circles. 'The operation consists of me being put under anesthetic, then a doctor will inject stem cells into my eyes. Stem cells are thought to have a regenerative quality, which doctors think could help restore my sight.' she said, rehearsed as if reading from a script. 'I still don't see whats upsetting you.' I said exasperatedly. 'Because the stem cells that they would use on me are from embryos, tiny little embryos Ethan! They are killing babies so that I can see!' she said bursting into tears, I rocked her gently whispering soothingly in her ear. 'I think you should do it.' I whispered, her head snapped up, 'What?' she said sounding shocked. 'I said I think you should do it.' I repeated more forcefully. 'But they are babies! Tiny defenseless babies! I can't justify killing them so that I can have my sight. I've lived sixteen years of my life blind, a few more isn't going to change anything. I couldn't kill them for something so selfish!' she replied strongly, pulling away from me slightly. 'They aren't babies! They have the potential to be but they aren't yet! For all you know one might die before its born anyway! Lily please think about this! You will never know what I look like, what you look like, even what your children will look like! Do you really not want to be able to see the world and all the beautiful things in it.' I said sadly. 'Not if it means killing an embryo.' she said quietly, 'You can go back to your lesson now Ethan, I need some time alone.'

This is the first part of a two part short story.
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