Episode 5

(Alan, 28. A friend of Adam's)

Alan: So it's true?

Adam: Took you long enough, moron!

Alan: I was at a private little shindig. Not going to introduce us to your blind fiancee, huh? What a crappy speech that was!

Adam: Alan, this is Sara. Sara, this is Alan.

Sara: I extend my hand, and the so-called Alan plants a repulsive kiss on it. I quickly withdraw my hand.

Alan: Your girl's a feisty one, Adam.

Sara: Adam talks with Alan for a bit, and I stand by his side. Hours go by and we start saying goodbye to guests, I bid farewell to my father, tears shared between us. I proceed with Adam, assuming we are on his property as we walk. I stumble multiple times due to the roughness with which he pulls me along, and we don’t exchange a single word.

Adam: Sara remains silent, I drag her to my bedroom and fling her onto the bed.

Sara: This marriage is just a facade!

I say, alarmed, as I feel Adam throw me on a bed.

Adam: I have no interest in you whatsoever. You'll sleep in my room because nobody knows this marriage is a mere contract, and it will stay that way.

Sara: In the same bed?

Adam: You can sleep on the bed or the floor for all I care.

Sara doesn’t reply, she sits still for a while. I sit in the armchair, grab a glass of whisky, and try to figure out how this will work.

Sara: You need to tell me what the room is like so I can build an image of it in my mind and know where things are.

Adam: You'll manage, wife!

Sara: I take a deep breath, remove my high heels, place them on the floor, and shuffle until they're by the wall to avoid tripping. Standing up, I take tentative steps, touch the wall, and navigate the bedroom looking for the bathroom.

Adam: Sara heads toward a large, low piece of furniture that she won't detect with her hands at that height. Just as I expected, she collides with it.

Sara: Finally, I find a door and realize it's the bathroom. I go in and hear nothing more; I don't know where Adam is, but I imagine he wouldn't help me with the dress. Struggling to take it off, I then hear the sound of the door and footsteps leaving the room.

Adam: After a few minutes of effort, Sara reaches the bathroom. I stay quiet, indifferent to whether she notices me there or not. She struggles to remove the dress. Without a bra and in plain white cotton panties turned away from me, I notice a large bruise by her ribs; that must've been what was bothering her. I stand and leave the room, spending a few hours in my office.

Sara: I find a bathrobe with great difficulty, place it on what seems to be the sink counter, and explore the bathroom to locate the shower controls. I take a rapid shower in cold water because I don’t know how to adjust the temperature and end up shivering. I put back on the same underwear and the robe. Retracing my path, I explore the bedroom a little more and sit down in what feels like an armchair, arranging myself as best as I can, and fall asleep despite the cold.

Adam: I come back to the room, find Sara’s wedding gown on the piece of furniture she bumped into earlier; she is huddled in my bathrobe on the armchair, apparently cold. I ignore it. I take a shower, get dressed, lie down, turn on the air conditioning, cover myself, and quickly fall asleep.

Sara: I wake up feeling extremely cold. The room is freezing. I curl up even more as the hours pass and fall asleep shivering with cold, overcome with exhaustion.

Adam: I wake up early, refreshed after a great night's sleep. Sara is still sleeping, curled up into a fetal position. I do my morning routine, get dressed, and kick the armchair where Sara sleeps sharply. She wakes up startled.

Get up; I'm going to introduce you to the staff.

Sara: Good morning, Adam. I don’t have any clothes with me.

Adam: Your father sent your clothes over early; they’re in the suitcases in the middle of the closet. Get dressed and come downstairs.

Sara: Before I can say anything, Adam leaves. I have no idea how to get downstairs without knowing my way around here. Taking deep breaths and with considerable effort, knocking into furniture along the way, I find the suitcases in the closet. Familiar with all my clothing, I even remember the colors. I select a nude dress with sleeves and put it on. All my belongings are here; I comb my hair, manage my hygiene with my fingers, and apply some lip gloss.

Adam: An hour goes by, and Sara hasn’t come downstairs. I go up after her, furious, and find her sitting on the bed.

What are you still doing here?

Sara: Adam, isn’t it obvious? I'm blind! How do you expect me to know where to find you when all you said was, get dressed and come downstairs?

Adam: Angrily, I grab Sara’s wrist and haul her down to the first floor.

Katy, gather all the staff now.

(Katy, Adam’s maid)

Katy: Yes, sir.

Sara: I remain silent, standing without even knowing where I am.

Adam: As you may all know, I got married and this is my wife, Sara. Sara is blind and independent. My dear wife does not like being helped, so anyone seen approaching her will be fired immediately! You may return to your duties.

Sara: Is that it?

Adam: Everyone here has a family to feed, Sara. If anyone helps you, they're out on the street!

Sara: Adam...

Adam: Breakfast is served at seven o'clock, lunch at noon, and dinner at nineteen. If you miss the main meals, you'll have to fend for yourself.

Sara: Adam, I don’t even know where I am right now, this is more than cruel, it's inhumane.

Adam: Dear wife, I do not even feel sorry for you.

Sara: Give me one day, one day with any employee to learn the layout of the house, then I'll manage!

Adam: You'll have to manage by yourself, and remember, anyone who helps you, gets fired!

Sara: Adam leaves me alone; I'm unsure where to go. I smell coffee and follow the direction of clinking cutlery sounds. Along the way, I bump into several objects and finally reach a chair. I sit and sense a plate in front of me, continue exploring the table, grab what feels like a piece of cake, taste it, and like the flavor. Adam is at the same table; his distinct fragrance is a tell-tale sign, yet he doesn't utter a word, and neither do I. After a while, he leaves, and I'm left alone at the table, clueless as to how to get back to the room, and thus hours pass by.

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