“Konnichiwa~~”
The third day, when I was just about to give up hope, his voice appeared again.

“Ueda!”
Unable to contain my excitement, I cried out his name.

“Heh heh heh...So you did miss me...”
He walked over and held my hand.

“Come on, let’s go out today.  It’s a fine weather.”

I held back...
Ueda tightened his grip on me and stopped his movement.
I knew it meant a form of encouragement...
I knew he wanted me to take the first step...

Since I was here...
I had never stepped out of my ward before...
Honestly...I was afraid...
Nervousness gripped me even now we were not moving...

I...
I gingerly took a step forward...

Ueda brought my hand to his lips to show that he was smiling.
I gave a half-smile back.

He opened the door...

“Kamenashi-san, be careful.”
Along the way, I heard the gasps and warnings of many nurses.

I felt dizzy...
It’d been so long since I walked such a far distance.

Ueda brought me to garden, I think.
The ground was soft... the grass tickling the sides of my feet..
It was shady.. the light which fell on me was cool...

“Close your eyes and feel your surroundings...”
Ueda said, which I followed suit.

Many sensations...
I did not feel before..rushed toward me..
Touch... of the gentle breeze...
Hear... of the cheery chirping of birds above... the rustling of leaves when the wind blows...
Smell... of the spring that’s arriving... and fragrance of newly bloomed flowers..

All my senses were aroused... to the great nature...
...to little things which I never notice before I lost my sight...
For the first time after the accident...

It felt great to be ALIVE...
The joy of just being to live...
 

“Go for the operation.” Ueda’s voice rang suddenly.

For a moment.. I was stunned...
How... how did he know...?
 

My sight could be regained...
If I went for the operation...to remove the blood clot...

“40% Sucess.”  That’s was the words of doctor said.

I did not want the operation...
Fear...
Of waking up to darkness again...

Now.. Ueda...he...

“How about seeing the world again?  I’m sure you miss it.” Ueda said cheerfully as if it was some easy task.

“I...” I hesitated.

“It’s better than you do not try at all, right?”

“Think about it.”
 

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