Color Through The Lenses

By: Charlotte Shum

Red. Yellow. Green. Blue.

The colors burst through the fragile lenses as I observe the world. A simple paradigm shifts inside my mind and you could say, my eyes are reborn.

It’s blinding, new, and unexpected. The colors are not what I thought they would be. I feel the need to put down these glasses and return to my comfortable black and white world. I don’t, of course, but my fingers linger on the tip of the frame for a moment.

This new world is I... I don’t know. A bunch of emotions swell up inside me. It feels like that time I drank an entire bottle of fizzy coke in one go.

I take a deep breath and regather my thoughts and feelings. I’m a bit irritated, sad, but also happy.

Growing up, I never knew I was color blind until I was actually told I had color vision deficiency. I only ever felt something was off; that little feeling of annoyance when the others said my painting looked weird, and when I needed to read labels to ensure my drawing seemed right to them.

When they told me, I felt bitter. Knowing I couldn’t see what they could see hurt me, a lot. But now, I am happy. Everything seems strange, but in a good way, I suppose.

Behind me, my parents stand waiting for my reaction. While I try not to give them the satisfaction of that, the corner of my mouth quirks upwards into a tight-lipped smile as my eyes fill up with tears.

Still, my mom comes to hug me. I can feel a lump in my throat. It’s getting harder keeping it in now.

Tilting my head upwards, the sun feels different; it’s unbearable and glary as always. But the sea of color that wraps around it makes it seem... warm.

Nearby, a series of birds and clouds move over to conceal the sun’s fiery gaze.

The clouds still appear the same, but also different in every other way. The sunlight shines straight through them, creating an array of colors that look like the flowers lying metres away from my feet. And amidst said clouds soared a murder of crows; a spotlight shining on those dark but not dull creatures.

It’s wonderful. The colors make everything brighter, from an insignificant petal to the endless sky.

I cry. The tears spill down my cheeks as my Dad pats my back. Maybe this remarkable world really is worth the wait.