Blind Faith

Rainair’s worst day was not the one she woke up blind, but the moment she’d realized she had married a monster.Machines hummed and clicked, their cadence echoing off the walls in time with her heartbeat. Her face felt swollen, and every one of her limbs was numb. The pain that radiated up her spine was like a familiar old friend that frequently called, only its presence was not as comforting.The sharp scent of alcohol and bleach confirmed she had landed back in the hospital for the fifth time in as many months. Each time earned her more severe injuries. Cliff would kill her eventually. She had to leave him for good, but her every attempt left a wake of destruction.Good people who had tried to help her had suddenly disappeared or had their lives destroyed beyond repair. Never again, she had promised herself, yet she couldn’t do this on her own.People entered her room. Hard-soled shoes indicated they were not hospital staff. The sickening scent of Axe cologne permeated the air. I

Damn, she was cute, thought Z, as he headed toward the lobby. When he saw that lovely bit-of-goods in a blue summer dress talking to a marble pillar in the terminal, his mind got all soft. He rarely reached out to passengers. He did his best to avoid them. This female was an exception. She was easy on the eyes as well. Those pale blue irises and honey-colored hair were stunning. He remembered the feel of those silky strands as they slid between his fingers. The smell of sweet jasmine lingered in his memory.Females were trouble, he reminded himself. It was best to steer clear of this one. After he oriented her to the ship, he would avoid her, regardless of his attraction. It would be best for both of them.This cruise included a fraction of the Taylor Cruise Line corporate staff. The awards ceremony was scheduled five nights from now when a handful of people would receive appreciation for their outstanding contribution to the company. His corporate team occupied deck fifteen, which

Rai’s stomach growled like an angry badger. The scent of food filtered through the air vents, taunting her with savory spices and buttery breads. The day had been perfect; slow and relaxing; a nice break from her usual chaos.Tomorrow, they would reach Victoria, where she would tour the town and have tea at the Princess Hotel. It was something she had always wanted to do, but never had the chance. This cruise offered a perfect opportunity to check a few things off her bucket list. She was only 37 years old, so there was plenty of time to experience several adventures including riding one of the longest zip lines on the west coast.She fired up her MacBook Pro and logged into the ship’s WiFi. Oliver, her British screen-reading voice, obediently read whatever fell under the cursor in a polite and polished accent that would make any professional valet proud. Her mother was British, which is probably why Rai was so drawn to the accent. It was also why she had been attracted to Z, though

When she exited the privy, it didn’t take long for Z to take a hold of her hand once again. Not really needing to swing her cane to and fro, she held it out in front of her, angled slightly outward to prevent from bumping into a wall or another object. Most people, when leading the blind, did not account for the additional space the person beside them required when passing objects. Z, however, seemed to guide her effortlessly down the ship’s narrow corridors and busy foyers.She had considered getting a guide dog at one point and imagined it would be similar to having someone like Z lead her. Getting rid of her white cane, however, was not something she was ready to do any time soon. The idea was akin to leaving the house without wearing clothes.Although she was blind, her eyes still registered light, not so much as seeing it as feeling the brightness. It felt like a sharp twinge in the center of her brain, just behind her eyes. If it wasn’t for the sunglasses she wore most of the t

The ship docked in Victoria at 9:00am. Rai barely had time to have a cup of coffee before disembarking. The bus leaving for the zip lines was due to leave in fifteen minutes. She didn’t want to miss it, but no one seemed to know where she needed to go to catch the bus.“I’ll take you,” said Z, presenting his elbow.“I don’t want to be a bother.” She said, feeling like a lost buffoon in a flurry of activity. Everyone seemed to know where they needed to be except her.“Don’t be ridiculous,” he scolded. Someone was in a bad mood, she thought.Not wanting to fuel that temper, she took his elbow and allowed him to guide her to the waiting bus. They arrived just seconds before it departed. “Thank you,” she said. As she gripped the handrails leading into the bus, she felt him follow her. “What are you doing?” she asked, turning to face him.“Making sure you get where you need to go, Miss Landon.”So, they were back to using formal names? “No one asked you to,” she firmly stated.He huf