Chapter 22 : Living together

After a few minutes, Angela managed to convince Leonardo to use the silver cane, and they were now crossing the lawn as per Angela's instructions. She noticed Leonardo's desire to explore the house on his own, without her constant assistance. It was understandable for a man who used to be a social butterfly and enjoyed his independence.
"Where am I now?" Leonardo called out to Angela, as they made their way down the orchard stairs.
Angela shouted back, "Turn around, Leonardo! You've reached the stairs! Go back and head towards the swing on your left."
Mrs. Gale, standing next to Angela at the main entrance, was surprised. "You're letting him wander around with the silver cane?" she asked.
"He's not disabled; he needs something to combat his boredom, Mrs. Gale," Angela replied.
Mrs. Vera arrived later and was overjoyed to see her son exploring. "Angela, you're an angel to us! You've helped him regain his ability to move and enjoy life as a blind person."
"Let's avoid using the word 'blind' around him, Mrs. Vera," Angela advised. "We need to help him heal emotionally."
Angela instructed Leonardo, "Leonardo, it's on your left!"
"Perhaps we should celebrate Leonardo's newfound zest for life, Mrs. Gale," Mrs. Vera suggested excitedly.
Once again, Leonardo yelled, "Where am I now, Angela? Maybe you should stay closer to me!"
"Yes, I'll be there in a moment!" Angela replied, before turning to Mrs. Vera. "Please excuse me, I need to attend to my patient."
"Alright, Leonardo. Imagine your house and the lawn in your mind. Picture a small screen on your forehead displaying the layout of your house. We're next to the swing, facing the main entrance a few meters away. Can you do that?" Angela tested Leonardo's imagination.
"Please stop talking, I need to concentrate here."
Angela burst into laughter, and for the first time, her laughter echoed through the lawn. She was genuinely happy.
"What's so funny? Are you mocking me?" Leonardo frowned.
"I apologize," she said with a smile. "Alright, tell me anything you remember about the lawn, starting from the main entrance."
"There were two large antique jars by the side of the door, and on the left was a small pond with goldfish. A few steps away from the pond, there was a small garden, and next to the garden was the staircase leading down to the orchard."
"Perfect," Angela said, smiling. "That's enough for this morning."
"I want to touch your face," Leonardo stated abruptly.
"What?" Angela was taken aback by Leonardo's request. She hesitated and asked, "And why do you want to do that again?" There was something about Leonardo's touch that made her uncomfortable.
"I want to see how you look," Leonardo replied.
"You've done that before," Angela reminded him.
"I wasn't in a good mood then, and I was angry, and my vision was clouded."
"I believe you've crossed the line, Leonardo. We should return to your room immediately." Angela started walking towards the main entrance but was unexpectedly stopped by Leonardo.
Leonardo grabbed Angela's hand and exclaimed, "Gotcha!"
"What are you up to?" Angela asked feeling trapped.
"I said I want to touch your face again," Leonardo stubbornly stated. Angela could sense his persistence and aggression.
Angela felt cornered and reluctantly said, "Fine, go ahead, touch my face."
Leonardo used his right palm to gently caress Angela's cheek, moving from her forehead to her eyes, and nose, and eventually stopping at her lips.
In a soft voice, Leonardo asked, "What if I will kiss you?"
"What?" Angela quickly stepped back from Leonardo's grasp. "That's too much, Leonardo. It's disrespectful, and I won't allow it. Kissing a woman who isn't your girlfriend is a form of abuse. Just wait for Miss Chavez to arrive."
"You talk too much; I was just joking," Leonardo said with a smile.
"And that was the most inappropriate and disrespectful joke I've ever heard, sir. Don't ever do it again," Angela stated firmly, taking a step back from Leonardo, keeping her distance.
"You know you're beautiful in my mind," Leonardo persisted.
"That's not appropriate, and your imagination has misled you," Angela responded flatly. "It's about to rain soon, so go back to your room," Angela commanded.
"Fine, come with me," Leonardo said as he walked alone into the house and headed towards the kitchen. He spent the entire day practicing and later had a small celebration as his mother had planned. After a few conversations, Leonardo stood up and asked Angela to accompany him to his studio. As they stood at the front door, Angela provided him with directions.
"From where you are, it's just three to four steps ahead of you," Angela instructed, standing behind Leonardo.
"Open the door for me," Leonardo requested.
"Alright," Angela agreed, opening the door and stepping aside, waiting for Leonardo to enter.
"Take a look at our painting," Leonardo said, leaning against the wall. He had quickly adapted to moving like a person without a disability.
"What?" Angela felt a twinge of unease about Leonardo's intentions.
"What do you think of our painting?" Leonardo asked, a sly smile on his face. "I need to hear your opinion and come up with a fitting title."
Angela moved closer to the painting and felt a sense of pride in their collaborative work. "It's abstract, but the intertwining colors create a sense of tangled rainbows."
Angela paused, contemplating the painting. "Your Eyes, My Vision." She felt an unexpected surge of joy when she thought about Leonardo's words. Who would have imagined that her hands would be guided by those of a talented and handsome painter?
"Angela?" Leonardo prompted. "What should we title it?"
Angela snapped out of her deep thoughts and said, "Perspective of the Blind."
Leonardo fell into an eerie silence, and Angela immediately regretted her choice of words. "Oh no, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend you or bring up..."
Leonardo interrupted her with a hearty laugh.
"What's so funny?" Angela asked feeling irritated.
"You don't have to keep reminding me about being blind," Leonardo chuckled. "I like your title, 'Perspective of the Blind'," he laughed again.

****

Time seemed to fly by as Angela's days grew more exciting in the presence of Leonardo. Eager to embark on their second painting together, they strolled through the afternoon before finding themselves inside Leonardo's studio. Anticipation filled the air as Angela waited for Leonardo's creative inspiration.
"What shall we paint this time?" Angela asked, her voice filled with childlike curiosity.
Leonardo smiled warmly, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "The title says it all—' The Finger Painting.' We shall create it using only our fingers."
They stood in the center of the studio, surrounded by an array of vibrant paints. The canvas, blank and full of possibilities, beckoned them from the easel. Angela's nerves tingled with excitement as she gazed upon it.
"Give me your hand," Leonardo said softly, extending his hand toward her.
Angela placed her hand in his, feeling a gentle caress as Leonardo's fingers intertwined with hers. "Your hands are so soft and delicate," he teased playfully, a fondness in his voice, "A pleasure to hold."
She blushed, feeling a mixture of anticipation and a desire to feel closer to Leonardo. She recalled the time he had taught her to walk with a cane, a memory that still lingered in her mind. What if I were to kiss him?
To break the silence, Angela spoke up. "Leonardo, the canvas awaits our touch."
Leonardo and Angela began to trail their fingers through the wet paint on the canvas. Angela could sense Leonardo's excitement in their shared hand movements.
"How does it feel?" Leonardo asked, his fingers tightly intertwined with Angela's.
Angela's voice turned soft, her heart skipping a beat with each of his comments. "How does what feel?" she inquired.
"How does it feel to have our wet fingers moving together on the canvas? And what do you see taking shape?"
"A mesmerizing abstract painting," Angela sighed, her voice filled with wonder.
"Excellent, you have inspired me despite my frustrations," Leonardo remarked, his admiration evident.
"It's my pleasure," Angela replied, a smile gracing her lips.
They immersed themselves in the joy of the moment, growing more comfortable in each other's presence. Leonardo, ever resilient, began to embrace his life in darkness.
"I am grateful for your guidance, for lending me your eyes," he whispered tenderly.
"You are the maestro, capable of asking for anything and turning the impossible into reality," Angela said, her smile bright. "However, perhaps you should consider inviting Lara to paint with you."
A flicker of something passed through Leonardo's expression, but Angela swiftly changed the subject. She had no desire to discuss absent people. After their painting session, they cleaned up the vibrant mess and then settled onto a swing, cradling cups of coffee. As the sound of a car approached, Lara returned with a radiant smile on her face.
"Wow, you two look different today," Lara remarked sarcastically, casting a judgmental glance at Leonardo and Angela.
Curiosity tinged Leonardo's voice as he inquired, "What brings you here, Lara?"
Angela swiftly stepped off the swing, her movements quick and purposeful, as she gathered the tray of empty coffee cups. "I must clean your room, sir," she said, her tone gentle yet determined.
"I believe it's time for me to take a bath, Angela," Leonardo stated, preparing to rise from the swing without making a mess.
Lara, seemingly taken aback, approached Leonardo and took his hands in hers, offering assistance. "Let me help you, Leonardo," she offered.
However, Leonardo insisted on using his cane instead, surprising Lara with his independence. With ease, he made his way back to the house, leaving Lara momentarily stunned.
Angela, about to follow suit after collecting the empty coffee cup, felt a firm grip on her elbow as Lara grabbed her.
"What did you do to him?" Lara demanded angrily, her voice hushed.
Angela, taken aback by Lara's hostile tone, swiftly pulled her arm away. She kept her distance, her expression calm. "I haven't done anything except teach him how to navigate using the cane, helping him become more familiar with the ins and outs of the house," Angela explained firmly.
"Why?" Lara's face reddened with anger as she pressed for an answer.
"Why not?" Angela responded, her voice steady. "I must assist him in living as normal a life as possible, even in the face of blindness. And if you're finished with me, Miss, I have important matters to attend to." With that, Angela swiftly walked away, leaving Lara fuming with anger by the swing.
Lara did not attempt to stop Angela from entering the house, her thoughts and emotions were clearly in turmoil.
Inside the house, Angela made her way to Leonardo's room and knocked gently. The sound of running water from the shower indicated that he was already bathing independently. A smile tugged at Angela's lips, a silent acknowledgment of Leonardo's progress. She then proceeded to the kitchen, where she found Lara engaged in conversation with Mrs. Vera.
"I've decided to live with Leonardo, Mrs. Vera," Lara stated softly, her voice carrying a hint of theatrics.
Angela halted abruptly, inadvertently overhearing Lara's declaration. Her heart skipped a beat as she absorbed the weight of Lara's decision to live with Leonardo.