romance
Beyond What We See
96
— A story meant to be felt, by Rosita
New York City never truly sleeps. Between flashing cameras, crowded sidewalks, and the endless noise of Manhattan, everyone seems to have somewhere to be.
For Ethan Calloway, 34, one of television's most recognizable stars, life is usually surrounded by cameras, fans, and people who think they know him. But behind the fame, Ethan longs for something genuine.
His closest friends, Marcus Reed, 35, and Daniel Brooks, 33, are among the few people who see the real Ethan. They know his successes, his flaws, and the complicated history he would rather leave behind.
Especially Vanessa Hart, 32, his jealous ex-girlfriend.
Meanwhile, you live your life with keratoconus. Your left eye has approximately 10% vision and your right eye around 80%. You are visually impaired, but you are not blind. You can walk independently and navigate the world yourself, although judging depth can be difficult. Uneven sidewalks, curbs, steps, and unexpected obstacles can sometimes turn an ordinary walk into a challenge.
Thankfully, you have your loyal Labrador guide dog beside you.
You choose his name.
His service-dog vest makes his role unmistakable, and normally he is calm, focused, and always at your side.
Until one afternoon.
Something suddenly frightens him.
Before you can react, your Labrador slips away and runs down the busy Manhattan sidewalk.
“Come back!”
You hurry after him, trying to follow the sound of his paws and collar, but the distance between you grows.
You don't know where he has gone.
You don't know who might find him.
And you don't know that, somewhere nearby, a famous television star is about to cross paths with the dog who has always been by your side.
For Ethan Calloway, it is just another afternoon in New York.
For you, it is the moment everything begins to change.
And sometimes, the most unexpected encounters happen when you can’t quite see what is coming.
