hello everyone my name is Tony and this
is my crazy story I was just a baby when
my parents moved from China to America
growing up Mom was always busy since she
worked as a nurse but Dad worked from
home and I loved spending time with him
mom was the exact opposite all she cared
about was work sometimes I tried to get
her interested in my life but it never
worked Mom I have a huge science test
tomorrow can you help me honey my back
hurts I just finished a 48 hour shift
can you ask your dad please it was
always the same as I got older I stopped
trying and dad became my everything my
parents have always been super proud of
their Chinese culture but I didn't care
so much for it for me America was the
only home I ever knew still I was known
as the nerdy girl of the school teachers
adored me because I was a smart kid but
the kids well they disliked me because I
loved tests and quizzes and would always
remind my teachers in case they forgot
other than academic Amex I was
practically invisible in school I never
had a boyfriend and the only person that
thought I was cool was my best friend
Ashley we had been friends since our
first day at school our sheer love of
mathematics connected us like two pieces
of a jigsaw puzzle one time when I was
in sixth grade dad gave me a traditional
Chinese hairpin and Ashley loved it whoa
such a big hairpin it looks so awesome
so Chinese dad made me wear it as a
symbol of good luck here you try it on
just as Ashley was checking out the pin
someone snatched it from her it was
Mason he was the absolute worst his
mission on Earth was to annoy me every
day he was the school jock and the head
of the cool squad the guy had started
school with Ashley and I but he was our
Junior now because he flunked grade
three twice wow good for you for
bringing China to school today oh this
looks cool how much would it make at a
pawn shop couple of cents give it back
Mason hey come come on Tony I was just
goofing here it looks good on you don't
give it to this wacko what did you call
me how dare you it was always the same
Mason just loved messing with me and
Ashley and every time it turned into
some argument that was my life I know
not quite happening but things flipped
when I turned 15 and one day Dad
announced that he was leaving mom and
going back to China he wanted me to come
with him but the court didn't agree with
dab after the divorce mom got custody of
me and I was devastated I tried to get
Mom to send me away by being naughty but
she wouldn't budge one day Mom was stuck
at work and she asked me to order dinner
instead I invited Ashley and the entire
math club for a pizza party are you sure
your mom would be fine with this cut her
some slack Tony no way come on let's
party just then I heard a loud crash in
the kitchen someone had broken my
mother's favorite China set oh if that
doesn't get her to send me to Dad
nothing else will when Mom got back she
was pretty upset what is the meaning of
this Tony how would you throw a party
without asking me I wanted to but you
know you're always busy I didn't think
you'd care don't say that I care about
you everything I do is for you to have a
good life your dad he left us you for
someone else what you're lying he'd
never do that just then Ashley
interrupted and showed me her phone it
was some woman's instant ID and she had
wedding pictures with my dad even Ashley
knew no no this all happened because of
you I hate you I was so angry that I ran
out of the house without even thinking
and right at that moment something hit
me and knocked the wind out of my lungs
then everything went black when I woke
up I tried to open my eyes but
everything was Pitch Black who turned
off the lights put it back on I can't
see anything honey the lights are on it
turned turned out that the impact of the
accident made me lose my eyesight I was
blind mom informed dad and he wanted to
talk to me on the phone but I refused he
could have visited me from China but he
didn't after I was discharged from the
hospital mom had a hard time taking care
of me so Ashley was practically living
with us I wanted to be angry at her for
not telling me about Dad but I couldn't
my family drama shouldn't affect our
relationship the craziest thing happened
at school today Mr s was teaching a
class and boom his wig fell off OMG that
must have been epic I was way happier to
spend time with Ashley rather than with
Mom it was her fault that dad left in
the first place I suppose I mean it must
have been because she was always so busy
I can get up by myself I'm blind not
handicapped and you must have work you
can go I can handle it but over time I
noticed how Mom was home more it was
like she was changing she wanted to be
constantly by my side and even though I
was always so Snappy with her she was
patient one time I was listening to an
old birthday video recording and hearing
dad's voice made me cry right then mom
came and hugged me oh Mom how could dad
forget me so soon it's his loss honey
you have me you'll always have me I
promise six months passed by and the
doctor suggested surgery for my eyesight
which was not only risky but also very
expensive Mom needed time to think and
that's when the doctor suggested it
would be good if I started school again
I needed to get back out into the world
but I was so terrified as I walked into
school with my cane and Ashley by my
side I could feel my heart in my mouth I
was expecting to hear mean comments but
instead I heard kids gasp is it her OMG
she's back yeah she's here and then all
of a sudden kids started clapping I was
baffled what's what's going on are they
making fun of me Ashley no everyone is
lined up in the hall clapping for you
what but why well the day was full of
surprises kids were super nice to me in
class during lunch time tons of kids sat
at my table even Mason was there hey
it's good to see you School hasn't been
the same without you why you didn't have
anyone to pick on Ashley was here you
could have bothered her nah not the same
without you oh I came up with a joke for
you you want to hear it of course you do
what do you call a blind dinosaur do you
think he saw us God help me Mason I will
punch you oh yeah Mason tell me this
what do you call a blind reindeer no
idea
no that's a good one I guess Mason
wasn't such a jerk after all while
everyone was always being nice to me
Mason did something different he made me
feel normal and I liked it he'd still
tease me call me a nerd but now he also
cared for me every day the moment I'd
enter School Mason would hold my hand
and guide me to class while telling me
how he'd rather be doing something else
but I laughed because I knew it was the
first thing he looked forward to and
whenever he rubbed his thumb on the back
of my hand I somehow felt calm with him
soon our Duo became a trio Mason went
everywhere with us yeah he was still
annoying but in a sweet way it was
refreshing Ashley on the other hand
thought he was up to something why is he
always hanging out with us like where
are his guy friends are we not nerds
anymore gosh he is always looking at you
it's weird isn't it do you think he
likes you and that's why he hangs out
with us ah Ashley it isn't weird but now
you made it weird yeah fine Mason was
handsome but him being friends with us
didn't mean he liked me he was just
being nice I think a few days later when
I got home from school mom gave me the
biggest news ever my surgery was
happening she finally had the funds I
was super scared for the surgery but
Ashley and Mason were at the hospital
when I woke up I was so happy it was so
good to see their faces again when I got
back to school I thought the attention
from my classmates would end but it
didn't hey gorgeous whoa why was I
feeling butterflies in my stomach seeing
Mason one of my friends is having a
party tonight wanna come was Mason
asking me out was a party a date sure
pick me up at seven when Mason arrived
to pick me up he looked like a million
bucks as he always did
um where's the ride are we gonna walk
there actually I was thinking what if
Tony I need to ask you a huge favor my
exams are starting soon and you know me
it's just that I don't want to fail
could you help you of course yeah come
on in we studied together that night and
I realized Mason just had some attention
problems he would just get bored really
fast so over the next few weeks I tried
different ways to help him understand
Concepts and he was able to but on the
day of his exam he was still nervous hey
it's okay you've worked really hard what
if I still fail everyone thinks I'm
stupid they must be jerks you are
awesome and kind and amazing Mason I
think
um never mind just as I turned Mason
grabbed my hand and pulled me in for a
kiss it was perfect gosh Tony you are
perfect if only you can see yourself as
I see you saying that Mason leaned in
and kissed me the entire night I
couldn't stop thinking about the kiss
once his exams were over Mason asked me
to the prom and of course I said yes but
when Ashley found out she totally
freaked out now something is definitely
up there's no way he would just ask you
why not ask actually am I not pretty
enough spit it out Ashley that's not
what I mean I mean it's just weird the
way he's just oh so nice all of a sudden
and of course you're pretty I don't know
what you mean but I'm tired of this
Mason likes me deal with it I hated how
she said that but I knew Ashley had a
point was this just a game to Mason that
night when he came to my window I could
help but ask Mason why did you ask me to
the prom and not one of the cheerleaders
do you still pity me as the blind girl
no I really like you I know we didn't
start off on the right foot but I always
had a crush on you I didn't know how to
express it I just sort of annoyed you
instead but that day after the accident
happened seeing you lying there in your
pink PJs and unable to do anything I
felt horrible I saw you in the hospital
I knew I had to show you how I felt
about you Tony I just wait a minute how
did you know I was wearing pink PJs were
you there when the accident happened
Mason looked shocked and I knew why OMG
it was you wasn't it I just realized you
don't have a car anymore what happened
your dad took it from you after you hit
a girl with it after you hit me Tony
I wanted to tell you like a million
times but I couldn't I didn't know if
you'd ever talk to me again it it was an
accident you just came out of nowhere it
wasn't my fault in yours neither I am so
sorry not your fault get out I don't
ever want to see your face leave I felt
like a million emotions wash over me
Ashley was right there was no way
someone like Mason could like me he was
just hanging out with me because he felt
guilty I sent a message to Ashley she
came over right away and after learning
everything she hugged me tight over the
next few days I kept replaying the whole
accident scene every night in my head
and I realized Mason was right it was me
who came in front of the car I am such
an idiot I needed to make things right I
tried calling him but he never picked up
the next day when I went to school I
looked everywhere for Mason but he was
nowhere to be found and when Mom came to
pick me up she gave me the most shocking
news ever apparently someone had come
forward regarding my accident it was
Mason I am shocked that boy was your
friend he looked like a saint he helped
us so much and in the end he turned out
to be the one responsible I don't know
what to believe helped us what do you
mean he didn't tell you he helped raise
money for your surgery he set up a
GoFundMe and ran ads all over the
Internet maybe he was doing it just to
not feel guilty mom I gotta tell you
something I told Mom all about the
accident how it was me who ran in front
of the car she immediately called her
cop friend and Mason was released I love
you Mom thank you for everything I'm
sorry I treated you badly before and
blaming you for what Dad did I love you
so deeply later that night I waited for
Mason to come to my window when he
didn't Ashley and I went to his I still
don't like him but fine I'll accept him
for you bet you would as I climbed his
way window with Ashley's help I caught
Mason watching MSA videos on his phone
so why didn't you tell me you helped
raise money for me because it didn't
matter What mattered was how I felt for
you how you felt for me how you how you
feel for me I'm sorry about before I
could finish I rose up on my toes and
kissed him so is the offer to go to prom
with you still on