Kill Switch by Penelope Douglas

She must’ve seen a look on my face, because she rushed to
apologize. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. That was a dumb question,
right?”
I shook my head. “No, I… I’m just used to being around
people who understand, I guess. I’ll have to get used to
questions.” And then I added, “And making people feel
comfortable enough to ask. It’s fine.” I let out a small laugh
and licked my lips. “And yes, to answer your question. My
brain still works, just not my eyes. When I try to picture things
I’ve never seen before, though, like you or the inside of this
school, it gets more complicated. Sometimes I map it out in
my head, and I can create an impression. Other times it’s just
like a color or a feeling or a sound that helps me identify it.”
Then I went through some of the pictures in my head,
reflecting on how I drew things in my mind.
“Sometimes,” I continued, “it’s a memory. Like when I
think about trees or I’m in the forest around my house, I
always picture the last trees I saw. No matter where I am.
Every tree looks like the trees in that garden maze with the
fountain. Tall hedges, dark green…” I trailed off, the
memories of that day flooding me again. “A fountain…”
“GGarden maze?” she questioned. “Not the one at Damon
Torrance’s house…”
My face fell, and I almost stumbled. Damon.
She said his name so casually, like she assumed I knew
exactly who he was, heard his name every day, and he was just
any other boy, living and breathing right here in Thunder Bay.
All of it so normal to her.
Of course, I knew he still lived here, but having her so
casually confirm it all of a sudden reminded me that I’d let my
guard down.
The truth was, I hadn’t heard his name in six years. It was
never spoken in my house, not since the day I found him
sitting in the fountain and ended up covered in blood.
Everyone said it was an accident, but he’d scared me that day.
He made me fall.