The passengers on the bus watched sympathetically as the attractive young woman with the white cane made her way carefully up the steps. She paid the driver and, using her hands to feel the location of the seats, found the seat he’d told her was empty. It had been a year since Susan, thirty-four, became blind.

Once a fiercely independent woman, Susan now felt condemned by this terrible twist of fate to become a helpless burden on everyone around her. Just getting through each day was an

exercise in frustration and exhaustion. And all she had to cling to was her husband Mark.

Mark was an Air Force officer and he loved Susan with all of his heart. When she first lost her sight, he watched her sink into despair and was determined to help his wife gain the strength and confidence she needed to become independent again. Mark’s military background had trained him well to deal with sensitive situations, and yet he knew this was the most difficult battle he would ever face.

Finally, Susan felt ready to return to her job, but how would she get there? She used to take the bus, but was now too frightened to get around the city by herself. Mark volunteered to drive her to work each day, but soon realised that this arrangement wasn’t working. But just the thought of mentioning it to her made him cringe.

Just as Mark predicted, Susan was horrified at the idea of taking the bus again. ‘I’m blind!” she responded bitterly. “How am I supposed to know where I’m going? I feel like you’re abandoning me.” Mark’s heart broke to hear these words, but he knew what had to be done. He promised Susan that each morning and evening he would ride the bus with her, for as long as it took, until she got the hang of it.

For two solid weeks, he accompanied Susan to and from work each day. He taught her how to rely on her other senses, specifically her hearing, to adapt to her new environment. Each morning they made the journey together, and Mark would take a cab back to his office. Although this routine was even more costly and exhausting than the previous one it was worth it. Finally, Susan decided that she was ready to try the trip on her own.

Monday morning arrived, and before she left she threw her arms around Mark, her temporary

bus riding companion, her husband, and her best friend. Her eyes filled with tears of gratitude

for his loyalty, his patience, his love. Susan had never felt better. She was going to work all by herself!

On Friday morning, Susan took the bus to work as usual. As she was paying for her fare to exit the bus, the driver said, “Boy, I sure envy you.” Curious, she asked “Why do you say that?” The driver responded, “It must feel so good to be taken care of and protected like you are.”

Susan had no idea what the driver was talking about, and asked again, “What do you mean?” The driver answered, “You know, every morning for the past week, a gentleman in a military uniform has been standing across the corner watching you when you get off the bus. He makes sure you cross the street safely and he watches you until you enter your office building. Then he blows you a kiss, gives you a little salute and walks away. You are one lucky lady.”

Tears of happiness poured down Susan’s cheeks. She was lucky, so lucky, for he had given her a gift more powerful than sight, a gift she didn’t need to see to believe — the gift of love that can bring light where there had been darkness.