NOT GUILTY?

Blind

KAREN

'Are you okay?'

'I am fine,' I said getting up, 'what happened?'

'This lady almost hit you with her car.'

'Did you take the number plates?'

'What for?'

'I have got a feeling that she wanted to kill me.'

'Are you some kind of a prophet?'

'I knew this was going to happen.'

'You are hurt. I should take you to the hospital. My name is Craig...'

'Are you giving me your hand right now?'

'I am sorry. I forgot you....'

'Blind.'

'I didn't want to say it.'

'It's okay, I am blind and everyone knows it.'

I tried to walk but my leg hurt.

'I should take you to the hospital,' he said and lifted me up.

******************

My name is Karen Siwela. I wasn't born blind but lost my eyesight when I was 10 years old. I am turning 20 and I have been blind for 10 years.

My parents died in a car accident, I survived but then I was blind. The doctors told me that my condition wasn't permanent. They tried to operate me but it never worked.

I finally accepted that I will never be able to see again and moved on with my life. I had been living with my grandmother and sister for the past few years. You can imagine the pain I went through when I woke up at a hospital bed 10 years ago and couldn't see. This meant my life had changed. I didn't even see my parents getting buried because I was in a comma. When I woke up from the comma, I felt different and could often feel if something was about to go wrong. I was blind but that didn't mean I had no brains or sense of touch. I got familiar with things when I touched and smelt them.

******************

'We are here,' he said holding my hand.

'I have got my stick.'

'I am sorry.'

'It's fine.'

I walked inside the hospital. I knew we were at Mpilo hospital.

'You're familiar with the place,' he said as I led the way.

I smiled.

'Are you new?'

'I landed last night. I had been abroad studying.'

'This should be Doctor Mwale's office,' I said knocking at the door ignoring his response.

'Come in,' he responded from inside.

He opened the door for me.

'Karen, what happened to you?'.

'I fell and he saved my life,' I lied.

I didn't want him to worry.

'Come sit here,' he took my hand, 'I will help you.'

'Can you excuse us Craig?'

'Okay, I will be outside waiting for you.'

'I will be safe with him. You can take your leave now. Thank you!'

'Ohhhh okay. I shall be leaving now.'

'Thank you young man. She is my niece and she is safe with me,' I heard uncle walking him to the door.

When I heard the final click of the door being closed, I sighed.

'He didn't want to leave. Why did you chase him?'

'I hate his perfume. Same cologne that my father used to wear.'

'Karen.'

'He is not my boyfriend after all. Just a stranger who saved my life.'

'Let me help you with the wound.'

I sat in silence just listening to the pain.

I had dreamt about some woman trying to kill me. I don't know why God let me go through all these things. In my dream I can see perfectly well but in real life I am blind. Granny told me that it's a gift. She is the only person who knows about my dreams and what I can see in them.

'All done. How are you feeling? Do you need me to check up on you with a scan?'

'I didn't break my bones,' I laughed, 'you worry too much Uncle. I should take my leave. I am on my way to the library,' I said getting up.

'You still trying to get your sister out of that place?'

'She is my sister and I will prove to the judge that she is innocent. I have decided to study law. I am dropping at teacher's college.'

'What? Your sister was studying law, your mother was an attorney. Shouldn't you do something different?'

'I can't because my sister is now in prison and I need to help her.'

'But you are....'

'You probably thinking that how am I going to get her out if I am blind? I can't see but I can touch things, feel them and smell. I am doing this for Kate and no one is going to stop me. I am applying for a degree in law. If they found her guilty, I will prove to the judge that she was framed. I know my sister very well, she didn't kill that man.'

He sighed in defeat, I could feel it.

'You are very stubborn but intelligent. There is no way I can make you change your mind. I know you very well, very stubborn like your mother. My sister is very proud of you wherever she is and so am I. You have proved to me that even when you blind, you can do anything. We only think about what we see but not use our brains or hands to feel those things. It's not always about seeing but feeling. I am with you all the way. You have got my support,' he hugged me, 'take care of yourself my princess. Your leg should be fine. It was just a scratch.'

'Thank you uncle. I should go now. I will call the taxi driver.'

'Alright, I love you.'

'I love you too uncle.'

He opened the door and I walked out of the hospital.

'I was waiting for you.'

I dropped my stick on the ground.

'I am so so sorry. I didn't mean to startle you.'

*****************

I was so deep in my thoughts when he talked to me.

Nowadays I can't stop thinking about my sister Kate and what she is going through.

I had met Jason once when he took me out for an ice cream. Honestly I felt like he was hiding something from my sister after he got a phone call from someone while hanging out with me. I heard him yell at the other person calling her Rita. The name never got out of my mind. When I finally heard that she was Jason's wife after my sister's arrest, the name came back to mind.

******************

'It's okay. Where is my stick? Why hadn't you left?'

'I was worried about you and the fact that you lied to your uncle.'

'You don't have to worry about me okay,' I snapped 'thanks for saving my life but I hate people who stalk me. Don't you have something to do because I do.'

I left him and walked to my spot, where I usually wait for the taxi driver. He didn't take that long to come, and drove me to the library.

'What time should I pick you up?' he asked walking me to the door, 'mind the steps.'

'Around 5.'

'I will be here. Take good care of yourself.'

'I will.'

He left when I had found a place to sit.

So many people got worried when I was left alone. No matter how much I told them that I will be fine on my own, they never listened. I started reading my book, obviously feeling the words with my hand. I needed to help my sister and get her out of that place. If only they had allowed me at the crime scene.

By the time the taxi driver came back to pick me up, I was dead tired.

The next following day, I was suppose to go to the police station.

I had a friend who worked there and had something for me.

'Goodnight Karen' said grandmother after praying for me.

'Can you sleep with me?'

'Are you afraid?'

'I just want you close. I miss Kate. She used to sleep with me when I had nightmares.'

'I will sleep with you. Are you still seeing her?'

'I am.'

'Can't you draw her picture?'

'I hadn't thought about that but I will. I love you granny.'

'I love you too.'

I had just dozed off when I heard a sudden noise coming from outside. I quickly woke up my grandmother.

'Granny, did you hear that.'

'I did,' she said, 'oh my God!' she exclaimed.

'What's wrong?'

'The house is on fire and I can't open the door. It's locked.'

'What?' I said getting up and fell on the floor.

I couldn't find my stick.

'Granny!' I can't find my stick.

I could hear her coughing.

'I need to get you out of here before this smokes kills you.'

I started coughing.

'What about you?'

'I will be fine. Let me break this window glass. I will knot the sheets and get you out of here.'

'I can't leave you granny,' I cried.

'Listen to me. These people are after your life. I need you to get out of here and be there for your sister.'

I was talking to her, and she wasn't listening to me. I didn't want to leave her. I heard her breaking the glass.

'Come..' she grabbed my hand.

'I can't leave you,' I yanked it away.

'The smoke is getting worse. I am begging you..let me save you.'

'Granny,' I hugged her.

'I love you,' with that said she tied me and pushed me out of the window.

I landed on the ground and felt a hand grabbing me.

'Let's go.'

It was Nick, the taxi driver.

'How did you get here?'

'Your grandmother just called me and I was in the area.'

'We need to save her.'

'There is no way in Karen. The fire is at the door. I need to get you out of here before they sees you,' he said walking with me.

'Who?'

'The people your grandmother is protecting you from.'

Then suddenly I heard a burst.

'Granny!' I shouted. 'let me go Nick.'

'She is dead Karen. Let's go,'

he got me into his car and locked the door.

My grandmother, my mother and my best friend. Whoever killed her was going to pay for it. I don't know where Nick was taking me but I couldn't stop crying.

'I am sorry.'

'You should have saved her life but not mine.'

'She wanted you to live Karen. It's hurting me too because of granny, I got that job as a taxi driver. When I saw her message, the house was already on fire......'

He was cut short by her

'How did she manage to text you?'

'I think when she realized that the house was on fire. I even drove in high speed. I can only take you to my boss son's house for tonight. My house isn't safe anymore. I am sure he won't mind. I will always be here for you Karen like I promised Granny. We will find the people who did this.'

I drifted off to sleep just to be awakened by Nick telling me that we had arrived at the place.

He held my hand as I got out of the car. If only I was able to see, I could have helped my grandmother. He knocked at the door.

'I need your help.'

'Anything f....'

His voice was familiar to me.

'It's Craig...you remember me.'

I kept quiet.

'Nick, get me out of here. Take me to my uncle's house.'

'We need to sleep here Karen. wait! You two have met?'

'I drove her to the hospital when she fell. Is she always like this? Rude to everyone.'

'She lost her grandmother right now,' he whispered.

'I hear t....,' I wanted to say, 'my head hurts,' hands on my hand.

She collapsed.

********************

Hello lovely readers

hmmm? Was it fair? can she achieve her aim?

kindly leave your comments and suggestions

*much love*