My Story: Blind Ambition

This is a story that I wrote that I want to share with you all. I think it has a good message that I wanted to include when I was writing it. Enjoy everybody!

Carrie gazed out over the sea as far as her eyes could take her. Watching the calm, rippling waves lap against the shore and the laughter among families, she couldn’t help but long for the sensation of love, joy, and fellowship she felt so long ago.

A warm breeze fluttered through her dirty blonde hair, exposing her captivating crystal eyes as she spread out on her beach towel. Anybody who ever looked into those blue eyes would say that you feel like you’re looking deep inside her soul; just like looking into an ice cube and seeing straight through it.

Almost every day, Carrie Buick would relax on the Florida beach marveling over what the next step will be. She was 22, had graduated college a couple months earlier, and was searching for a fitted career. Job searching was not one of her strengths, especially since she had no idea what to pursue.

She headed toward the Farmer’s Market. Since her parents had died when she was 10, “Mr. Eddie”, a fruit vendor, had taken Carrie in as his own. Eddie Montessori had been around ever since she could remember. Mary and John Buick, her parents, were his first loyal customers from the very beginning and over the years they became extremely close. He had one son who chose to stay with his mother after their divorce
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“There you are!” Eddie exclaimed as she meandered through the crowd, toward his stand.
“How did you know it was me?”

Recently the doctors declared Eddie as legally blind, seeing only shadows. He was 82, so it was predicted to happen sometime since his health was in such bad shape. Nothing stopped him from doing his job; even going blind. The loyalty and support of his old customers kept him going every day and Carrie admired him for that.

“I could smell your,” he paused to sniff the air, “coconut sunscreen from a mile away!”

Giggling, she bit into a granny smith apple and hopped into a camping chair. Eddie was the only person in the world who could make her laugh. That’s why she loved him.

“How come you’ve lost so much and still are so happy?” She wondered, her eyes focused on his every move.

“Because, I have so much through what I’ve lost.” He smiled at her, through his sightless eyes enjoying the damp, salty airflow through his silver hair.

“Oh, you’re no help these days!” She packed up the stuff and grabbed her purse, “Well I better get back to my apartment. I’ll wait until Diana comes.”

Diana owned her own assisted living business and helped Eddie with basically anything. She offered to sell for him at the Farmer’s Market, but he refused to give it all up.

Once Diana arrived, Carrie turned to leave. Patting his soft, wrinkled hands she said, “See you tomorrow morning, my friend!”

Although Eddie was aged, he could still remember everything from the constant banter of his customers and from Carrie’s conversations with him every day. So he yelled back with his raspy voice, “No, you won’t! Remember? You have that newspaper job interview!”
“Oh, right! Thanks Mr. Eddie! See you in a couple days!”

The sunshine disappeared Monday morning and was replaced with a somber, mournful scene. The clouds filled the sky; you could barely see even a streak of sunlight. _Why is today so tranquil if I have such good news? The sky should be congratulating me with some sun._ Carrie thought as she sprinted the last block to the Farmer’s Market. She just couldn’t wait to tell Mr. Eddie the phenomenal news that she received a phone call that morning announcing she could take the newspaper position; what was waiting for her there was a great surprise. Eddie was not there! He had NEVER missed a day in Carrie’s memory. Why now? Her excited, dazzling eyes now transformed into anxious, restless ones as she searched the area. She knew what she had to do.

Dashing to her car, any outsider could clearly see the tense in her shoulders. Her trench coat was trailing behind her, a tear trickled down her cheek, and she started to cry. _Why did this have to happen? Oh, please don’t let it be what I think it is. Please don’t die on me_. Frantic now, she drove like a maniac to the Memorial Hospital.

“Ma’am,” a woman called to Carrie at the front desk of the hospital, “Eddie Montessori is on the third floor. Are you family?”

“Practically, may I see him?”

Seeing the urgency in Carrie’s eyes, the woman escorted her to the third floor. Diana was sitting next to the hospital bed, rubbing Eddie’s hands when Carrie stepped in the room.

“He’s had a stroke. The doctors said he won’t last long.” Diana looked guilty and ashamed.

With that, Carrie had to get away to the beach like always. She drove her silver Volvo as fast as it could go. When she finally arrived to the beach, she saw that the waves thrashed angrily about the ocean and the coast was completely deserted. It was a depressing setting which made her heart ache even more. Burying her feet under the grains of sand, Carrie placed her head on her knees and sobbed her heart out.

Eddie and Carrie’s last conversation was all a blur to her, but eventually it swept over her and something lit up inside her like a light bulb. A flashback of their last conversation ran through her mind. “How come you’ve lost so much and still are so happy?” She had said on that perfect Saturday morning. “Because. I have so much through what I’ve lost.” Eddie had answered. It was so clear now; his answer made perfect sense. He wouldn’t have Diana if he weren’t blind, he probably wouldn’t be a fruit vendor if he had his son to care for, and he wouldn’t have Carrie if John and Mary Buick hadn’t gotten in a car accident. Although she hated to admit it, Carrie knew that statement was true in every way.

Eddie passed away that morning and Carrie turned down the newspaper opportunity to run his fruit stand. Although it took her so long to figure it out, Carrie found herself. She found her new love and she appreciated what she had through all that she had lost.