I Tried to Hide My Blindness during a Date, but I Had No Idea How My Secret Would Spill — Story of the Day

Janice’s heart raced every time Colin messaged her. Their connection felt real, but truth loomed over her: she was blind. As their first date approached, fear gripped her. How long could she keep her secret hidden before Colin realized the world she navigated was one he couldn’t see?

The room was dark, the faint glow of my computer screen casting soft shadows on the walls.

I sat at my desk, my fingers resting lightly on the keyboard, a small smile tugging at my lips. The robotic voice of my screen reader broke the silence.

“Message from Colin: I love that author. One winter, I read nearly ten of his books. ‘Love is War’ is my favorite. What about you?”

I let out a soft laugh as I listened, picturing the message in my mind. My hand reached out instinctively, fingers brushing the keys as I carefully found the right one to respond.

“Dictate a message,” the robotic voice prompted.

“Good choice,” I began, my tone light but warm.

“I might’ve picked that one too, but I really loved The Princess’s Favorite. I remember bawling at the ending and couldn’t stop for hours.”

“End message. Send”.

As the message sent, a familiar warmth spread through me. Talking to Colin had become the highlight of my days.

We’d met online just a few weeks ago, and from the very first message, something had clicked. We bonded over books, sharing thoughts and favorite passages late into the night.

But it wasn’t just about literature—we talked about everything: dreams, fears, and even silly things like favorite pizza toppings.

But there was one thing I couldn’t bring myself to share.

Twice now, Colin had asked to meet in person, and each time, I’d hesitated. I’d made up excuses about work, errands, or just being too busy.

The truth was far simpler but much harder to explain: I wasn’t ready to tell him I was blind.

As if on cue, the robotic voice chimed again.

“Message from Colin: Wait, you listen to books? You love audiobooks? That’s interesting—I just can’t get into them. I need to hold the book, feel the pages, smell the paper. That’s how I really enjoy a story. Don’t you feel the same?”

My smile wavered, the words sinking in like stones. My hand clenched slightly as I hovered over the keyboard.

He didn’t know. Of course, he didn’t know. How could he? But his words hit me in a way I didn’t expect.

They reminded me of all the things I couldn’t do, of the ways my world was different from his.

“Dictate a message,” the computer prompted.

I took a shaky breath. “Colin, I have to confess,” I began, my voice trembling.

“I’m blind. I can’t read regular books, so I rely on audiobooks.”

The words hung in the air, heavy and raw. My chest tightened as my heartbeat quickened. What if this changed everything? What if he saw me differently after this?

“Delete message,” I said quickly, panic gripping me.

“Message deleted. Dictate a message,” the voice repeated.

I swallowed hard. “I just love listening to books while multitasking,” I said instead, keeping my tone casual.

“End message. Send”

I whispered, leaning back in my chair. My head tipped forward as I pressed my palms into my face. I couldn’t keep hiding this forever.

But how could I tell him? I hadn’t felt this kind of connection with anyone in years, and the thought of him walking away because of this truth was too much to bear.

Another chime broke the silence.

“Message from Colin: You keep surprising me. Hey, I have tickets to a movie premiere this weekend. Want to come with me?”

My breath caught. My fingers hovered over the keyboard, trembling slightly.

This was it. I couldn’t keep avoiding him. But the fear was still there, lingering like a shadow.

“Yes, I’d love to,” I finally typed. The message sent, and I leaned back with a mix of excitement and dread.

I knew I couldn’t delay the truth much longer, but for now, I clung to the hope that maybe, just maybe, things would turn out okay.

Being blind wasn’t new to me. Over the years, I’d learned to handle tasks that once felt overwhelming.

I could navigate my neighborhood confidently, hail a cab without hesitation, and manage my daily errands with ease.

But stepping into the unknown, like the sprawling mall where the movie theater was located, still left me anxious. The unfamiliar terrain felt like a minefield, and I knew I had to prepare.

I arrived two hours early, gripping my white cane tightly as I listened to the echoing hum of footsteps and the faint chatter of shoppers.

The place was massive, with high ceilings that made every sound bounce around like it had nowhere else to go. I approached a security guard near the entrance, forcing myself to speak calmly.

“Hi,” I began, clearing my throat.

“Could you help me find the theater? I’d like to practice the route before meeting someone.”

The older man nodded kindly. “Of course. Let me walk you there.”

His voice was patient as he guided me through the mall.

“Twenty steps straight, then a right turn, fifty more steps to the escalator,” I repeated the directions under my breath, committing them to memory.

We reached the theater, and he helped me backtrack to the entrance.

After the second trip, I felt confident enough to do it on my own, though the knot in my stomach refused to loosen.

“Good luck, miss,” the guard said before leaving me. “You’ve got this.”

I smiled weakly, though I doubted he could see how nervous I was. This plan felt shaky at best.

How was I supposed to hide my blindness during a date? What if I tripped or bumped into something?

What if Colin noticed? The thought alone made my hands tremble.

As the meeting time approached, I stood outside the mall, sunglasses on and cane discreetly tucked into my bag. My heart raced with every passing second.

“Janice?” A warm, friendly voice pulled me out of my spiraling thoughts.

“Colin!” I said, feigning excitement while my chest tightened. I’d never heard his voice before, but I had to act like I recognized him.

Smiling brightly, I opened my arms for a hug. Relief washed over me when he stepped forward and embraced me.

“It’s so great to finally meet you,” he said, his tone cheerful. Then he hesitated. “But... sunglasses? On a cloudy day?”

“Oh,” I said quickly, my mind scrambling for an excuse. “My eyes are really sensitive to light. I wear them all the time. I hope that’s okay.”

“Not a problem at all,” Colin replied, brushing off my explanation with ease. His casual acceptance eased my nerves, but only slightly.

As we walked into the mall, I focused on counting my steps while keeping up with our conversation.

Colin chatted effortlessly about the movie and his favorite scenes from the trailer, but I struggled to keep my concentration. Somewhere along the way, I lost track of my steps.

When we reached the escalator, I hesitated. My foot hovered uncertainly above the floor, my confidence evaporating.

“Wait!” I blurted, panic seeping into my voice.

“What’s wrong?” Colin asked, his concern evident.

“Uh, I just feel a little dizzy,” I lied, trying to cover my mistake. “Could you help me get to the cinema?”

“Of course,” he said, his tone gentle as he slipped his arm around mine. The warmth of his touch steadied me, but guilt weighed heavily in my chest.

How long could I keep this up? How long before he realized I wasn’t being honest with him?

As we approached the cinema, I let out a quiet sigh of relief. For now, my secret was safe. But deep down, I knew it wouldn’t stay that way forever.

Finally, we made it to the theater. Settling into our seats, I exhaled in relief. I had no idea if Colin noticed my awkwardness, but I couldn’t let my guard down.

The movie began, but following the story through sound alone was difficult. The loud explosions and chaotic action scenes made it hard to grasp what was happening.

“Isn’t that shot amazing?” Colin leaned in to whisper. “See how they angled the camera?”

“Yeah, it’s... stunning,” I mumbled, hoping he wouldn’t press further.

“What stands out to you most in this scene?” he asked eagerly.

“Uh... I’m not sure. Hard to say.”

“Don’t think too hard. Just say the first thing that comes to mind.”

“Colin,” I whispered, trying to keep calm. “Let’s talk after the movie, okay?”

“Sure,” he said, sounding a little disappointed.

When the credits rolled, Colin turned to me with a smile. “So, what did you think?”

“It was good,” I said carefully. “Lots of beautiful visuals.”

“I agree. Especially the scene where the protagonist escapes the basement—remember that part?”

“Oh, yeah,” I said quickly. “That was intense.”

“And when he made it onto the boat?” Colin pressed.

“Right, the boat,” I echoed, my face heating up.

“There wasn’t a boat, Janice,” Colin said, his tone sharp.

I froze, my heart sinking.

“Why are you lying?” he asked, his voice quiet but firm. “And why won’t you even look at me during this date?”

“Colin, it’s not what you think,” I stammered.

“Then what is it? Because it feels like you’ve been avoiding me this entire time.”

Tears welled up in my eyes. “Colin, please—”

“No,” he interrupted. “I thought what we had online was real. But now... I don’t even know if you’re interested in me at all.”

I stumbled out of the theater, gripping the wall for support.

“Colin!” I called, my voice trembling.

“Do you need help, ma’am?” a kind voice asked.

“Yes,” I said desperately. “I’m looking for the man I came in with. His name is Colin.”

“Can you describe him?” she asked.

“I... I can’t. I don’t know what he looks like. I’m blind,” I admitted, my voice breaking.

The woman gently guided me outside, but Colin was nowhere to be seen.

Desperate, I raised my voice. “Colin!”

No answer.

I slumped onto a nearby bench, burying my face in my hands as tears streamed down my cheeks. Everything was ruined.

Then, I felt someone sit beside me.

“You’re blind, aren’t you?”

I froze. It was Colin.

“Yes,” I whispered.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” he asked gently.

“I was scared,” I admitted, my voice trembling. “I didn’t want to lose you.”

“You wouldn’t have,” he said softly. “But lying to me? That almost did.”

“I’m sorry,” I said, tears still falling. “Can we start over?”

Colin smiled faintly. “As long as you promise—no more secrets.”

“Deal,” I said, feeling hope spark inside me for the first time in ages.

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