Total pages in book: 40
Estimated words: 36478 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 182(@200wpm)___ 146(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36478 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 182(@200wpm)___ 146(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
"Good boy!" I cheered as he carried the ball back to me and dropped it at my feet. I pet his head and scratched behind his ears before picking up his toy. "Let's go again!"
I threw the ball over and over, and every time, Cooper was just as excited to chase after it. Each time he collected the toy, he appeared proud of himself as he delivered it to me, and received a flurry of congratulations and pats.
After a dozen or so throws, I switched to the Frisbee. It was incredible to watch Cooper with the disc; each time I snapped it, he ran at top speed and leapt from the ground, snatching the toy in his teeth in mid-air. He got even more praise for those catches.
Cooper returned with the Frisbee once more, but he didn't have the same pep in his step as before; his footsteps were slower, his head hung, and his breaths were quick and shallow.
"What's the matter, buddy?" I asked, running my hand through his fur. "Are you getting tired?"
"Yeah, he's probably spent," Sterling answered. "He's always raring to go in the mornings, but once he's done, he's totally done."
"Aw, well let's go in and get you some water," I suggested to Cooper before I rubbed my hands over my bare chest. "I think I'm ready to go in too; it's nippy out here." The air was crisp and the grass was cool beneath my toes.
"Oh, I'm so sorry!" Sterling exclaimed as he jumped from his chair. "I forgot that you weren't wearing much. I'll go put your clothes in the dryer and they'll be done soon. Would you like a sweatshirt until then?"
I appreciated his concern, but I told him, "No thank you, sweetheart. I'm okay."
Sterling still ushered Cooper and me inside, and the pooch headed straight for his water bowl to gulp down the liquid. I put his toys away, and then Sterling took me by the hand and led me to the couch. When I sat down, he pulled a blanket from the back cushion and spread it over me before he hustled towards the laundry room. The man was too damn sweet.
Cooper joined me in the living room and climbed into his fluffy bed. He walked in several tight circles, and then laid down with a sigh. He was all tuckered out from our playtime.
When Sterling came into the room, he was carrying a large, leather-bound book. He sat next to me and scooted over until our thighs touched, and settled the book on his knees. "I'd like to show you something."
Without explanation, Sterling opened the front cover, unveiling an up-close photograph of a spider on a dewy web. It immediately clicked, "These are your photos." He nodded and I turned the page to find a cluster of wildflowers in vivid colors. "These are beautiful."
Throughout the book the subjects changed from plants and animals, to landscapes, to old buildings which would have looked dilapidated, but Sterling managed to capture their beauty. Each photo was better than the last.
Eventually, I came upon a picture of a teenage girl playing volleyball. Her determination shone in her eyes as she slapped the ball over the net. The next shot was of two football players colliding helmet to helmet. I wondered if either of the boys were the asshat Xander.
As if he heard my silent pondering, Sterling told me, "I took out all of the pictures of the guys who hurt me."
"Good," I huffed. "I hope you burned them."
He chuckled as I kept turning pages, amazed by the images he'd captured. Then my heart broke when, a little more than halfway through the book, the pictures stopped. Sterling never got to finish his collection.
"Thank you for showing me these." They were important to him, and it meant a lot that he shared them. I closed the book and placed my hand on his. "You are so talented."
"I was," he replied sadly, and my heart sank even deeper. "It was a huge adjustment when I lost my sight, but I learned, I kept moving forward, and I accepted it as my new normal. But knowing that I couldn't do photography anymore?" He shook his head. "That was the hardest thing to deal with. It was my dream to share my art with the world."
I squeezed his hand and told him seriously, "You are going to do great things in this world; you already have. You inspire me with your positive attitude and kindness, and the way you've risen from such a terrible situation. I hate that you had to give up something you love, but I promise you that you have so much to share with the world."
Sterling leaned forward to rest his forehead against mine. His pretty blue-gray eyes were misty when he whispered, "Thank you," before giving me a soft kiss.