The Unseen Beauty
In the quiet town of Corolis, there was a magical event every year. A grand festival, that seemed to touch the heart of every single person, attracting people from far and wide. The spectacular event known as the Day of Colour was a proud tradition. However, this is not just a tale about a festival, but it's a story about a lonesome, blind girl named Maya.
Maya was blind since birth, and she didn't know the concept of colour, but she always felt a sense of excitement when the Day of Colour approached. She would hear others express ecstatic excitement as they planned their outfits and decorations – 'This year my dress will be the colour of the brightest sunflower', 'I am going to colour my house the hue of the morning sky'. Maya always used to wonder though, what these colors actually meant.
One day, Maya’s childhood friend, Elijah, thought of an idea. He vouched to help Maya 'experience' colours. Elijah was a poet blessed with the gift of beautiful imagery. He decided to use this blessing to paint the world of colour in Maya’s imagination.
The next day, he took Maya to a nearby park and started the journey of colours. He began with red. He made Maya touch tender roses and said, 'Red feels like the warmth, the blossoming love from your heart when you caress this rose Maya.' Maya's face lit up, she felt elated and was eager for the next colour.
Elijah then guided Maya’s hand to touch the fresh sprouts, explaining, 'Green feels like the freshness of newborn leaves, the softness of a cool breeze.' In response, Maya's heart pounded with anticipation.
Describing blue, he took her near the lake, made her feel the water, and said, 'Blue is like serenity, like calmness, it’s like these waves touching your feet.' Maya felt a sense of calm listening to his words and feeling the water.
This continued for a week. Elijah painted every shade of colour he could think of in Maya’s mind. From the fierce orange of the sunsets to the tender pink of the dawn – everything. It was fascinating and liberating for Maya. Not just the sensation of colors but the varied feelings attached to them filled her with immense joy.
Finally, the Day of Colour arrived. The town was bustling with people busy in last-minute preparations. Maya was sitting in her garden, feeling the warm sunshine on her face. She was eager not just to 'hear' the festival this time, but to 'feel' it.
Elijah arrived, and together they ventured into the town, Maya clasping onto Elijah's arm. As they walked, he began describing the beautiful sights around her. He began with the red balloons flying high in the sky; then, he described the beautiful green bunting strung across the streets, leading her to feel the cool blue water in the fountains. He painted the dazzling array of colours around her, from the vibrant outfits people wore to the myriad hues in the decorations.
As the day came to a close, Maya felt something she never did before. She felt included, joyous, and, most importantly, she felt the beauty of the colours even though her world was still full of darkness.
As the townsfolk lit the celebratory fireworks and screamed in delight, Maya smiled. She deduced the explosion of colours in the sky from the excitement of the people around her. For the first time in her life, she imagined the spectacle, feeling every burst of colour in her heart.
That night, as Maya lay in her bed, the events of the day played in her mind. The festival wasn't just a celebration for her eyes anymore, it was a festival for her heart, her senses, and her spirit.
This year, the Day of Colour was everything she had ever imagined – and more. It was no longer just a simple festival, it stood as a reminder of her journey of discovering what might be lost to the eyes, but never to the soul; to feel the unseen beauty.
And so, it is through Maya and Elijah we learn the true meaning of inclusion, empathy, and friendship. This isn't just their story; it's a tale for everyone who believes that beauty can be more than just what meets the eye.