This story is fictional. I have never dated a blind woman but I did have an acquaintance that was blind. Her husband was also blind. She pointed out something to me that I had never thought of. There is no such thing as porn for a blind person. She lamented that fact to me and so for nearly three months, I read pornographic novels to her over the phone. What she did while she listened I'll never know but she thanked me over and over again.
*
After my wife died, I buried myself in my work. It seemed to limit the time I had to spend feeling sorry for myself that this marvelous woman had been taken away from me. My friends were very concerned for me. They held dinner parties where certain available women just "happen by" but I never answered any of the messages and phone numbers hastily written on napkins and stuffed into my jacket pockets. My sister, Claire, and her husband, Larry, repeatedly begged me to join their church group, company picnics, etc. but I did my best to tactfully refuse.
One day, Claire called me. She had gotten a call from Stella Marshall. The Marshall family was once one of the most prominent in town. Stella still lived in the old mansion on River Road.
"Becky is back in town from California, Claire gushed, and Stella wants us to take her out, just to get her out of the house. She's been back for two weeks and hasn't made contact with anyone."
Once more, I ruefully gave in to my sister's ploy and agreed to meet them at the Marshall house. Becky was by far the smartest of the Marshall girls. She was drop dead gorgeous but stayed aloof from the gaggle of boys who lusted after her with their tongues hanging out all through high school. She went away to college and we lost contact with her.
"Please be tactful and polite," cried Claire as we met walking up the front steps to the mansion. To my surprise, Stella herself opened the door.
"Come in, everyone, Becky is ready to go."
What greeted me next took my breath away. Before me stood a stunningly beautiful woman. Becky had filled out some since I last saw her at graduation. The same long blond hair was still there but the figure was now that of a mature woman of 30.
"David," she cried. I took her hand and then she surprised me with a big hug. Her large breasts crushed into my chest as she threw her arms around me. Her perfume was intoxicating. I returned the obligatory hug and stepped back for the shock of my life. Becky was blind! Her beautiful blue eyes stared straight past me.
"It's so good to hear your voice again," she said. "I know. I've changed some since we last saw each other."
She shook hands with Claire and Larry and we all walked out to the car. I took Becky's arm but she said,
"I can manage."
She knew exactly how many steps to the curb. Once the car door was open, she got inside without any help. At dinner, she did let me guide her through the restaurant and read the menu to her. When the meal arrived, she asked me to describe the arrangement of the food on the plate as if the plate were a clock. After that, we all forgot she was sightless. She was bright, witty, a brilliant conversationalist and, laughing at Larry's dumb dirty jokes, she would grab my arm and bury her face on my shoulder. Something was stirring inside me that I thought was long since dead.
Larry said,
"Let's go dancing!"
I tried to beg off but Becky said,
"Come on, it won't kill you."
We went to a western bar where they were giving free lessons in line dancing. Becky and I did fairly well, all things considered. We once got our feet tangled and fell to the floor, laughing like fools. During the slow dances, however, we clung to each other in a wordless admission that our common loneliness was worse than either of us had the courage to admit. I felt her body pressing into mine as she wrapped both arms around my neck. During a break we went outside into the parking lot to get away from the noise and the smoke. She turned to me and our kiss was that of two lost souls who had suddenly found solace in shared passion. There was a momentary silence and then she said,
"Five years ago I was raped. They beat me so badly that I lost my sight. The doctors say that someday I may be able to see again but right now I am beginning to think I never will. I liked my job working as a teacher of blind children but when mom called and said she was getting on and her health was failing, I decided to come back home. I'm not sure what I will do yet, but meeting you again has been a wonderful homecoming."