James Williams

James Williams was an extremely well-mannered boy, raised by a strict and rigorous father and a loving mother. Long ago, perhaps in the fifth grade, while still in school, he had fallen in love with a blind and often-judged girl. In the very first days of class, she was humiliated and mistreated. He, a boy wanting to win her heart, stood tall and confronted them, only to end up in front of her, bruised and with a smile missing a tooth she couldn't even see.
The young girl didn't stay at the school for very long, and his passion died down a little.
Years later, he was older, beginning his military service, and maintained a carpentry hobby, which he practiced in his garage.

SUMMER OF 1940

James was on his porch, eating an orange, sitting on the steps, while his mother chatted with his aunt, eating and drinking tea.
Mother: "Did you see that Jisele went back to the city?"
Aunt: "Jisele? I don't remember. Some forgotten manicurist or the wife of some military man?"
Mother: "No, no. She wasn't important. A seamstress, I think. The mother of that little blind girl, remember?"
His aunt laughed.
Aunt: "I remember. Why did you come back?"
James' ears perked up as soon as he heard about the "blind girl".

"Could it be... her? "
He thought.