Through Her Eyes

By Alisha Jones

Tessa Long is a vibrant, athletic sixteen year old girl, who has never given much thought about her struggle with diabetes. She's dealt with it most of her life. But, when she learns that the disease has caused infection in her eyes and she will eventually go blind, she begins a journey that will take her far out of her comfort zone. Because of Tessa's anger and resentment towards God, her mother, Maggie, resorts to sending her to a School for the Blind in North Carolina.

Garrett Cooper has worked on the landscaping at the blind school for years, but no one knows it, because he clings to the shadows due to an unfortunate accident that he suffered years ago. Because of his deformity, he never associates with anyone for fear of being cruelly criticized. That is, until an ancient piano brings Tessa into his world.

Chris Tomkins is the school's senior resident. Through an act of God, he was brought to the school at a very early age and has never left. He claims that his world is safe and forgiving, whereas the outside world is the exact opposite. He plans to live and die there, until Tessa helps him to see a new side to the world he has grown so accustomed to.

Can Tessa move past her anger and allow God to move within her? Will Garrett and Chris be able to go beyond the limits of their world, or will the love that two of them share break a heart beyond all repair? Also, will Tessa's mom find the courage and strength to accept a love long forgotten?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Alisha Jones
• Release date: Nov 3, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370686858

Book preview

Through Her Eyes

By: Alisha Jones

All characters appearing in this

work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead is purely coincidental.

Any Title references are used with the greatest respect to the author

Text Copyright © 2014

All Rights Reserved

I would like to dedicate this book to my good friends,

Heather and Brooke.

Your friendship means the world to me,

and has inspired me in so many ways.

I love you both.

Chapter One

What?! Tessa shouted as she jumped down from the exam table. Are you serious? Her anger over the news she had just received was too overwhelming that she just couldn’t sit still. Then as the realization began to sink into her brain, she sank to the floor and sobbed. This is so unfair! How can this be happening to me? She was sincerely asking the question to the doctor, but directed her attention toward her mother.

Maggie Long knelt to the floor beside her only child and wept with her. While rubbing her head and trying to soothe her with mere words, she claimed, It’ll all be okay, Tessa. Everything works out according to God’s will.

Tessa screamed to the top of her lungs as she jumped from the floor, Don’t you dare start preaching to me, mom. I don’t wanna hear about God right now. She looked down in disgust to her mother who still knelt on the floor in a pleading motion with her hands spread out in front of her. Why would such a merciful, loving God have it in His will for me to be blind?

Stunned, the doctor, who had the unfortunate position of delivering the news, walked toward Tessa, only pausing as she backed away like a scared puppy. Miss Long, I know this is quite a shock for you, but I believe your mother is right.

Feeling the hand of the religious smack in the face, Tessa glared at the doctor. With a fire in her voice and bile in her throat, she asked, Is that so? Well, would you be so kind as to help me understand why this, supposedly, caring Father of His children would not only, make me develop diabetes, but also use the disease to ruin my vision as well? Now raging with a blazing temper, her face was a flaming red. She fumed and begged, I mean, I can’t possibly imagine what good it would do for the ‘Heavenly Father’, she spat, to give me so many trials to come through. Pacing like a caged tiger waiting on his once-a-day meal, she wondered, Seriously, what could He possibly have in store for me? As if having diabetes wasn’t enough with all the meds and prickin’ my finger three times a day. Now, I have to look forward to no more sunrises, no more sunsets, no more hangin’ out with my friends, ‘cause who’s gonna wanna hang out with a freak?

Sweetie, Maggie began as she rose delicately from her position on the floor. I am just as sad as you are about this, and just as stunned, she glanced to the doctor, but just try to calm down.

Don’t you tell me to calm down! Tessa spat. I don’t want your pity. She jerked her arm out of her mother’s grasp and pointed the doctor squarely in the chest. If you can’t do anything to help me, then just leave.

The doctor hung his head and told Ms. Long, I’m very sorry. He exited the exam room leaving the fragile mother to deal with her very angry sixteen year old. He felt like a heel making the woman deal with such a strong-willed girl, but he knew she would be better at calming her down than he would. So, he headed for the receptionists desk and warned them not to enter the room until the mother and daughter had gone.

Is she gonna be okay, doc? a nurse asked caringly.

After a brief sigh, the doctor replied, I think she will be. God had something special for that young lady. The nurses and receptionists occupying the hallway, turned toward the door when they heard the loud cries eminating from the room. When crashes were suddenly heard, a nurse started toward the door, but the doctor grabbed her elbow gently. There’s nothing in there that can’t be replaced. Let them be. The nurses did as they were bid and each prayed a silent prayer for the young lady and her mother.

Tessa knew she was having the temper tantrum of a five year old, but she couldn’t seem to control herself. Whatever she touched ended up flying across the room with extreme force, crashing into the wall. When there was nothing left to throw, she screamed to the top of her lungs. Why! Why! Why! She pled as she look heavenward. Then, filled with sudden exhaustion, she crashed to the floor in utter despair. Spreading her hands on the cold, tile floor, she wept tears of complete anguish. Her long, blonde hair, now streaked with tears, clung to her face and mouth.

Patiently, Maggie knelt, again, beside her daughter and wrapped her in the motherly embrace she had perfected years ago. Not only was Tessa her only child, she would be her last. She had resigned herself to the decision years ago, and was genuinely happy to at least have Tessa. She had been her one, true miracle. But, today, her miracle needed a miracle, and that broke Maggie’s heart like nothing else could. Hugging her daughter fiercely, she tried again to sooth her. I love you Tessa. I always have and I always will. No matter what happens or what comes our way, I will always be there for you.

Tessa’s flowing eyes peered into the eyes of her most faithful friend. Grabbing her mother’s hand, she admitted, I know mom. I love you too. But why does all this have to happen to me?

i don’t know, sweetheart, Maggie comforted, but I can tell you right now that God only gives trials to those who can bear them. I know that you are gonna come out stronger than ever.

Come out? Tessa challenged. There is no ‘coming out’ of this one, mom. This is permanent blindness. It’s not a physics test that I have to study for and will be over soon. I am gonna be like that for the rest of my life.

Maggie rubbed her daughter’s back lovingly. Of course, honey, I know that. But, I’ve always told you that God has a special job for you. You were a miracle baby, my miracle baby. And I know that He loves you and trusts you with this great responsibilty.

Tessa was too worn out to argue with her mother. She had gone to church all of her life and had never missed a service unless she was sick. She had sat through all the Sunday School lessons and heard each one at least a dozen times. But, she was never fully positive that there was a God. How could such a great man, as the creator of the universe, be so cruel to his ‘so-called’ children at times. And, too many things in the Bible stories she had heard were just too far fetched to be believable. However, her mom was a devout Christian who always read that Bible of hers, and prayed over every meal, and at bedtime. So, she knew better than to challenge her mother on the facts of God’s word. If her mom said that God had a plan, she would have to see it to believe it.

****

Tessa ran to her room in the back of the house. She was born in that house, in fact, in the very room that was now her own. She used to love the stories her mom would tell her about her birth and the mid-wife who helped deliver her. Her room hadn’t gone through many changes in her sixteen years of life, and she often found comfort in the predictablity of it. Today, however, there was no comfort to be had. She swung open her door, crashing the doorknob into the wall. Slamming it closed behind her, she threw herself onto her purple and orange comforter and screamed into her pillow. With so many questions and worries tumbling through her mind, she couldn’t concentrate enough to have a good cry. Finally raising her head from her pillow, she noticed her phone resting on her night stand. She remembered buying the phone from the thrift store. Her mom told her that she used to have one just like it with it’s frame transparent enough to see the working gears and lights. Being as close as they were, she couldn’t refuse the suggestion to buy it. Picking up the receiver, she wondered who she should call first. She wanted to tell all of her friends personally before they heard it through the gossip grapevine, and conveniently forgot who she was. Deciding she would call her boyfriend, Vince, first, she angrily punched the numbers on the keypad. Through blurry eyes, she stared at the Bible on her nightstand and waited not-so-patiently for him to answer. When he didn’t answer, she slammed the phone onto its base and grabbed the Bible from its perch. She rarely picked it up, but she left it in plain sight so her mother would think she was reading it. And, if she ever asked what she had been reading, she would respond with one of the many Sunday School stories she had heard over the years. Mumbling to no one in particular, she said, A plan for me, huh? Well, don’t do me any favors. She opened her nightstand drawer and threw the leather bound book into the back of it.

Suddenly, her phone let out a shrill sound and started flashing red and blue as though it were a police car and she had commited some infraction on the law. She paled wondering if it was a sign that she shouldn’t have tossed God’s Holy book so carelessly. But then, anger fueled her as she watched the flashing lights of her phone. She commited the look to memory thinking that it could be the last time she would see them again. The doctor hadn’t given her a time frame of when she would lose her sight, except to say that within a few months, she would lose a little more than she had already. Then, she would lose it little by little until.. With the phone crying like a baby to be picked up, she jerked up the receiver and answered, Hello?

Hey, babe. How’d your doctor’s visit go?

Tessa drew a deep, ragged breath. Closing her eyes, she exhaled sliently. Hey, Vince. I just tried calling you.

I know, he admitted. I was in the back yard playing with Sarah when I heard the phone ring. I came in just in time to see your number on the Caller-ID and hear you hang up.

How sweet Vince was to spend time with his little sister. Most teenage boys didn’t have time for anyone except themselves, but Vince was different, always had been. He was caring and sympethetic to other people. She knew if there was anyone in the world, besides her mom, that would be there for her, it would be Vince. She thought for sure that she was in love with him, but neither of them had ever said the words to the other. Can you come over? She hated to sound like she was begging, but with fresh tears flowing down her cheeks, she just wanted a little comfort, and Vince’s caring arms would do nicely.

Of course, he agreed. Is your mom home?

Yes, she is. Sweet, innocent Vince would never come over unless her mom was there. She liked that about him. He respected her enough to obey her mom’s rules. How soon can you be here?

My dad just pulled in the driveway, so I can leave now.

Great. She should have been ecstatic to know that he was coming to see her, but she coudn’t muster the joy. See ya then. He hung up the phone and she slowly returned the receiver to its base. Please be the nice guy that I think you are. Please don’t break my heart. She lay back on the bed and stared at the ceiling, wishing she were somewhere else, anywhere else. She would rather be in a hole in Africa than have to tell Vince her bad news and watch the pity form on his face the way she was sure it would. She lay there until she heard the doorbell ring.

Scrambling from the bed, Tessa walked solemnly down the hallway to the front door. Stopping to take a reassuring breath, she sent a slient petition heavenward, God, if you’re really up there and you really do care about me the way my mom and the doc says you do, please show me now. She turned the doorknob slowly and grinned, half-heartedly, to the one guy she felt she could count on. Hey.

Hey yourself, Vince smiled as he walked through the open doorway. Looking around for Ms. Long, he asked, How did the doctor’s visit go? You never did tell me. Before Tessa could answer, Vince spotted her mom and greeted her with a handshake. Ms. Long, nice to see you again.

Maggie welcomed her daughter’s guest, Good afternoon, Vince. It’s very nice to see you too. How is your family?

Very well, thank you for asking, Vince smiled. Sarah is sprouting like kudzu, but she’s doin’ great.

That’s wonderful, Maggie said. With a wave of her arm, she invited, Please make yourself at home.

Thank you, Vince smiled at her politeness as he entered the livingroom and took his usual seat on the end of the couch. When Tessa sat next to him, he asked, Are you gonna keep me in suspense, or are you gonna tell me?

Tessa grimaced with the news that she had to tell. But, mustering the courage, she confessed, The doctor says that my diabetes has affected my vision. That’s why I have been trouble focusing lately.

Well, that’s good news, right? Vince wondered. At least you know what the cause is, and he can fix it.