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Touch

Aidan McNally

    Arthur tasted his cold, minty breath. He flicked his sensing stick forward and back. He heard a tap-tap-tap sound. The door, he thought. He stepped closer. After a moment, he found its knob, and opened it. He immediately felt overwhelmed.
    Arthur heard a variety of voices chattering and laughing at different volumes. He heard the sounds of silverware and glass. He smelled exquisite cuisine being cooked. The aroma of basil, garlic, pesto, and parmesan poured into the air. He took a deep satisfying breath. He almost forgot how nervous he was. But, a voice reminded him.
    “Arthur,” said a high-pitched, cautious voice.
    “Yes,” he answered, facing the voice. “Alice?”
    “Yep. That’s, me. You’re, Erin’s friend?”
    “I am, yes.”
    “Follow, me please,” said a lower pitched female voice.
    The host, thought Arthur. He heard Alice moving. He followed, tapping his sensing stick every couple feet, until the footsteps ahead of him ceased.
    “Here, you are,” said the host. “Enjoy.”
    Arthur heard her walk away. He tapped the chair with his sensing stick. Then, sat down. He heard, Alice sit.
    “Wow,” she said. “This place is nice.”
    “Is it too much,” he asked.
    “No. It’s fine. Just fancier than Erin described.”
    “Well, your voice is much prettier than Erin described. It’s like music.” Arthur heard a giggle that made him feel warm. “Did, you know?”
    “Did, I know what?”
    Arthur held up his sensing stick and acted like he was in a room with no lights. He heard a laugh that made him smile.
    “Yes, Erin told me.”
    “And, you still came?”
    “Yeah, why not? You’re very handsome.”
    “People don’t see a lot in a blind guy.”
    “Most people are stupid. If anything were to stop me from coming on this date: It’d be the fact that I don’t know, you. But, if I lived life like that. How many people would I know? Right? So, here I am.”
    “Here, you are.” Arthur smiled. I think I like her, he thought.
    “How about some wine?”
    Arthur nodded. I definitely like her, he thought.
    As the night went on, Arthur liked her more each minute. They talked about everything including: their childhoods, most embarrassing memories, eventually, hopes, dreams, and even fears. Then, came desert-time. The Server’s accent and the wine convinced them to order the most expensive dish: ‘A Slice of Life’. The server left. They waited.
    “When you lose one sense,” asked Alice. “Does another get increased instead?”
    “Yeah,” answered Arthur.
    “Wow, fascinating. Which sense is it for you?”
    “Guess.” Arthur heard, Alice giggle again.
    “I don’t know. Um, hearing?”
    “Nope.”
    “I give up. What is it?”
    “Touch.”
    “Touch?”
    Arthur nodded.
    “Like, feeling?”
    “Yep. My hands can feel most things. Grooves, or whatever.”
    “Like, the grooves on someone else’s hands?”
    “Sure.”
    “No way.”
    “Give me your hand. I’ll prove it to you.”
    Arthur almost articulated how shocked he was when he suddenly felt one of Alice’s soft little hands resting gently in his. He slowly caressed her hand. He could feel her pulse quicken. He felt a rough bump in between her thumb and index finger.
    “Is that a scar,” he asked.
    “Yes,” she answered.
    As Arthur rubbed his thumb across Alice’s first two knuckles, he disregarded the brisk footsteps approaching their table. Feeling euphoric, Arthur moved on to her third finger. He felt the knuckle. Then, he moved up slightly and felt it. The indent of a wedding band, thought Arthur.
    “A Slice of Life,” said the server.
    Alice pulled her hand away. She must have grabbed the dish because he heard her put it down between them.
    “Oh my God, Arthur. It looks amazing. Have some.”
    “I’m okay.”
    “Come on. Open, your mouth. Try some.”
    “No, thanks...” Arthur tasted cake on his tongue and felt a fork slide across his teeth. He heard Alice chuckle.
    “You, were saying?”
    “That this tastes and feels too good to be true.”
    “What?”
    “Your wedding ring. I felt the indent on your finger.”
    “I’m not wearing any rings.”
    “I know. You, took it off.”
    “Is this going to change anything?”
    “No. Just, everything.” Arthur got up, grabbed his sensing-stick and left. He heard Alice scoff. He didn’t blame her. He wasn’t going to run into someone like that again anytime soon. He tap-tap-tapped the door and opened it. One step out of the restaurant, and someone ran into him.
    “Damn it,” he barked.
    “I’m so sorry,” said a soft and sincere sounding woman’s voice. “I didn’t see you before. But, now I do.”



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