`the siren sang so sweet

[`S O L O]

`S O L O

The siren sang so sweet
And watched the sailors going down
Yah, anyone would drown

`&` Monday morning. No fun. High school. No fun. Being blind. No fun. But that's beside the point. This morning I've decided to go to school. I haven't been in a week. The school generally gives me a break since the 'accident'. I can miss days and days at a time without anyone caring. Kids generally leave me alone. They figure that whatever happened to me must have been pretty traumatic. They don't know the half of it.

`&` I've heard the rumors. The other kids whisper them as I pass by, thinking I can't hear them. But my sense of hearing is quite sharp these days. I heard one boy whisper "Yah, I heard that she got kidnapped by these Russians and they tried out this new medicine on her that..." I stopped listening to him then. I knew what he would say next. They all said the same thing at the end, but their methods of getting there were all different. And all wrong. I haven't told anyone from school the story, and I don't think that I ever will. Boo-hoo lonely road.

`&` On this particular morning, the hallway seems to be fairly empty. That could be because I'm twenty minutes late. But I know that I won't be counted tardy. Sure, the kids will stare at me as I enter the classroom and the whispering will start up, but at least I won't be able to see them.

`&` My locker is #2965 on the first floor of the building. Skylar helped me train Enzo to take me straight there in the morning. Enzo is amazing. I never knew that dogs could do everything she knows how to do. But I do know that without her, I wouldn't be going to school at all. So this morning we follow the routine and I hold onto her stiff harness as she guides me to my locker. We reach it at the end of the hallway and I feel for my lock. It's the kind that opens with a key instead of a combination. After a few seconds, I've unlocked it and my locker hangs open. I have English first period, so I know that I need to get my English book out. Skylar helped me organize my locker, so the English book is the first one on the top shelf. I find it without trouble and slip it into my bag.

`&` See, first hour is the easiest, because the English room is right next to my row of lockers. I can easily find it with a little bit of Enzo's help. Other classrooms aren't so easy to find, but teachers and other students who aren't afraid of me usually are willing to help me out. Anyways, Enzo and I make our way to the English room, to the right. We stop in front of the door and I reach my hand out, feeling for the handle. After finding it, I rest my hand on it and take a deep breath. Show time. I push down and the door opens. Mrs. Finestra's voice stops mid sentence when she sees me. "Well, good morning Tyler. Take a seat, dear." I nod and nudge Enzo forward. I hear someone whisper, "There's and empty seat next to me, Tyler." I smile in their general direction, but am annoyed. Everyone always assumes that I need help, but I don't. I could have found an empty seat all by myself. Ok, so maybe not. But it still hurts my pride.

`&` I follow the kind person's voice and am seated quickly. I've gotten good at following voices and estimating distances and what not. I get my books situated and Enzo takes her spot at my feet. We listen as Mrs. Finestra talks about Shakespeare. I'm safe in my seat without too much difficulty. But I know that I don't want to come back tomorrow. I've already decided that it's not worth it.