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| To the birthday girl who’s my greatest inspiration to never give up on love. |
Unexpectedly
There was once a blind little girl who dreamed of working in the air force. As impossible as her dream might be, she still hoped and prayed that it would come true. The girl worked as an assistant to the village’s local shoemaker who treated her as his own. She was hardworking, patient, and most of all, she put all her heart in doing her job as her way of thanking the shoemaker. She was a friendly lass, and the shop’s high-paying customers would always ask her to shine their shoes or to fetch their necessities.
One winter morning, the mayor and his family visited the shop to purchase leather boots. They visited the shop every month. They were a nice family except for the son. Now, the mayor’s kid was a naughty boy. He’d cause trouble all the time, and would put the blame on the blind girl. The poor girl could do nothing but get punished or shouted at for something she didn’t do every time the mayor's family visits. The blind girl was cleaning white leather shoes when the mayor’s son took a piece of clean rag, poured permanent black ink on the rag, and handed it back to the girl. Unknowingly, the girl, after taking the now-dirtied rag, cleaned the rest of the pairs of white shoes with it.
When the shoemaker saw what the little girl had done, he scolded her and had almost relieved her of her job had she not begged, pleaded, and kneeled. The damage’s worth was equivalent to a month’s worth of food. Hiding in one corner by the shoe racks, the naughty son snickered. The poor girl was fuming mad. She hated the naughty boy who had been causing her trouble ever since they met. The naughty boy then thought of another prank: stealing a pair of the most expensive heels in the store. As he was about to do his deed, his father caught him, shouted curses, and started hitting the boy. The blind girl heard the commotion and went on to stop the father. The son, cheeks red and crying, stared at the girl as a single tear fell from his cheeks.
After the incident, the boy was never seen again. Life continued for the blind girl, still full of hopes and dreams. Years passed. The young girl was now a lady, and the generous shoemaker was now a good ‘ol man. Because the shoemaker had hit the mark past his prime, he couldn't keep the store open the whole day and night anymore, so he trusted the young girl with keeping the shop open during the times he’d doze off to dreamland. Even though they’ve been having fewer customers, a particular client had been keeping their sales up and going.
This client was a doctor, an ophthalmologist. Whenever the doctor would visit, the shoemaker noticed that the doctor would be all smiles the moment he sets his eyes on the young lady. At times, the doctor would even forget what he was talking about because of the young lady. Thinking of the doctor and his adopted daughter, the ‘ol shoemaker felt everything had been set, and he could already leave without regrets. He knew his time was almost up.
A few months later, the shoemaker died peacefully in his sleep with a smile on his face. The burial was a simple one having guests who either had been close friends, patrons or clients of the deceased. The year after the old man’s death, the doctor offered to take the girl to his clinic and replace her eyes with seeing ones. With nothing to hold her back, the young lady agreed. The procedure took a year to complete, and another half to fully heal.
The long wait was over, and the lady was now finally able to see, and what she did see, oh, was truly a surprise, a gift from her beloved doctor—a red, velvet box. She opened the box, and on that very day, the doctor proposed to the young girl. The couple got married and lived a happy life full of contentment and love.
The wife went to college, graduated, and became an air force pilot while her husband became chief surgeon in the force’s medical team. They had kids who grew up to be successful people, and when time came that God had finally claimed the lives of those who had lived, a little note was found safely kept in an old, red, velvet box the doctor had kept in his pocket.
A little girl, six or seven maybe, I see every day by the shoe shop smiles so beautifully. Sad fate was that she had no eyes. How cruel the world is to this girl…yet she still smiles, and I hate her smile. I hurt her, I make her sad…yet she still smiles…
I try to do everything to wipe that smile off her face, but nothing works.
My work backfired on me, yet she still protected me…what’s in this poor girl that makes her so unforgettable? I’m going to go somewhere far, and when I get back, I want to see her beautiful smile once again…
Her face, her contagious laugh, the way she moves with grace…I will make her happy. I will make her dreams comes true…someday…someday.
Things that seem so impossible, are not impossible at all if one hopes for possibility. Whenever life treats me hardest, I'll always remember how much you've kept me going on. Thanks for the support, love, and memories. :*
Happy birthday again, I hope you liked my story.
Dedicated to Maria Sheipearl Ann Tragico.
8/21/1996
Yours ever truly,
