The Blindness Novelist

When​ ​Victor​'​s​ ​latest​ ​novel​ ​ended,​ ​He​ ​quickly​ ​arranged​ ​the​ ​novel​ ​file​ ​to​ ​be​ ​the​ ​size​ ​of​ ​a​ ​normal​ ​novel​ ​book.​ ​This​ ​novel​ ​was​ ​more​ ​than​ ​eight​ ​hundred​ ​pages​ ​long.​ ​If​ ​it​ ​was​ ​a​ ​book,​ ​it​ ​would​ ​be​ ​at​ ​least​ ​one​ ​and​ ​a​ ​half​ ​inches​ ​thick.​ ​This​ ​made​ ​him​ ​have​ ​to​ ​set​ ​the​ ​margins​ ​of​ ​the​ ​book​ ​well.

 

It​ ​took​ ​Victor​ ​about​ ​fifteen​ ​minutes​ ​to​ ​complete​ ​the​ ​page​ ​and​ ​scale​ ​of​ ​the​ ​novel.​ ​Before​ ​he​ ​opened​ ​the​ ​browser​ ​to​ ​find​ ​which​ ​publishers​ ​are​ ​now​ ​accepting​ ​original​ ​fantasy​ ​novels.

 

His​ ​slender​ ​fingertip​ ​rolled​ ​down​ ​the​ ​mouse​ ​wheel​ ​until​ ​his​ ​eyes​ ​caught​ ​upon​ ​publishing​ ​that​ ​was​ ​now​ ​accepting​ ​manuscripts​ ​for​ ​fantasy​ ​novels.​ ​But​ ​only​ ​the​ ​first​ ​fifteen​ ​people​ ​who​ ​fill​ ​out​ ​an​ ​application​ ​form​ ​and​ ​submit​ ​the​ ​original​ ​novel​ ​through​ ​the​ ​website​ ​will​ ​be​ ​accepted.​ ​The​ ​publisher​ ​will​ ​then​ ​arrange​ ​to​ ​meet​ ​face​ ​to​ ​face​ ​for​ ​an​ ​interview​ ​as​ ​one​ ​of​ ​the​ ​considerations​ ​and​ ​the​ ​writer​ ​will​ ​know​ ​the​ ​result​ ​within​ ​the​ ​same​ ​day​ ​whether​ ​his​ ​or​ ​her​ ​novel​ ​is​ ​accepted​ ​or​ ​not​ ​and​ ​will​ ​it​ ​be​ ​published​ ​with​ ​the​ ​publisher​ ​or​ ​not.​ ​Which​ ​now​ ​the​ ​number​ ​of​ ​applicants​ ​is​ ​up​ ​to​ ​thirteen.

 

The​ ​black-haired​ ​young​ ​man​ ​did​ ​not​ ​wait​ ​any​ ​longer,​ ​he​ ​immediately​ ​filled​ ​out​ ​the​ ​application​ ​form.​ ​When​ ​complete,​ ​a​ ​salmon​ ​pink-colored​ ​fingertip​ ​clicked​ ​the​ ​mouse​ ​to​ ​send​ ​information.​ ​When​ ​the​ ​file​ ​was​ ​sent,​ ​a​ ​warning​ ​popped​ ​up​ ​on​ ​the​ ​big​ ​screen.

 

'​Thank​ ​you​ ​for​ ​your​ ​interest​ ​in​ ​submitting​ ​your​ ​novel​ ​to​ ​us​ ​for​ ​review​ ​and​ ​consideration.​ ​We​ ​will​ ​contact​ ​you​ ​via​ ​email​ ​to​ ​arrange​ ​an​ ​interview.

 

What​ ​you​ ​need​ ​to​ ​bring​ ​on​ ​the​ ​interview​ ​day:

 

1.​ ​Brief​ ​story​ ​of​ ​your​ ​novel​ ​that​ ​you​ ​would​ ​like​ ​us​ ​to​ ​consider​ ​in​ ​the​ ​length​ ​of​ ​one​ ​A4​ ​page.

 

3.​ ​Prepare​ ​yourself,​ ​we​'​ll​ ​give​ ​you​ ​time​ ​to​ ​present​ ​your​ ​novel​ ​to​ ​us​ ​as​ ​much​ ​as​ ​you​ ​can​ ​within​ ​three​ ​minutes.

 

From ​FTSstories​ ​publisher​'

 

Victor​ ​grinned​ ​at​ ​the​ ​notification​ ​that​ ​popped​ ​up​ ​after​ ​he​ ​pressed​ ​on​ ​submitting​ ​an​ ​online​ ​application.​ ​A​ ​big​ ​heart​ ​beats​ ​like​ ​a​ ​drum​ ​set.

 

“​God,​ ​I​ ​beg​ ​you​ ​to​ ​take​ ​my​ ​side​ ​for​ ​once.​ ​If​ ​this​ ​novel​ ​gets​ ​published.​ ​I​ ​swear​ ​to​ ​keep​ ​writing​ ​good​ ​novels​ ​and​ ​spreading​ ​happiness​ ​through​ ​text​ ​to​ ​people​ ​around​ ​the​ ​world.​ ​I​ ​will​ ​be​ ​a​ ​good​ ​person​ ​as​ ​always​ ​and​ ​always​ ​will​ ​be​…​”​ ​He​ ​paused​ ​for​ ​a​ ​moment,​ ​“​Haha,​ ​I​ ​didn​'​t​ ​mean​ ​that​ ​if​ ​you​ ​don​'​t​ ​take​ ​my​ ​side​ ​then​ ​I​ ​will​ ​stop​ ​being​ ​a​ ​good​ ​person.​ ​I​ ​will​ ​always​ ​remain​ ​as​ ​a​ ​good​ ​man.​”​ ​The​ ​young​ ​man​ ​pleaded​ ​with​ ​God​ ​whether​ ​he​ ​was​ ​real​ ​or​ ​not,​ ​and​ ​ended​ ​up​ ​joking.

 

...

 

Two​ ​months​ ​and​ ​twelve​ ​days​ ​later

 

Came​ ​the​ ​day​ ​of​ ​Victor​'​s​ ​interview.​ ​The​ ​publisher​ ​made​ ​an​ ​appointment​ ​for​ ​the​ ​young​ ​man​ ​to​ ​meet​ ​them​ ​at​ ​eight​ ​o​'​clock.​ ​Any​ ​delay​ ​of​ ​even​ ​a​ ​second​ ​will​ ​be​ ​immediately​ ​disqualified.​ ​But​ ​with​ ​being​ ​a​ ​punctual​ ​person.​ ​Victor​ ​arrived​ ​at​ ​the​ ​publisher​ ​about​ ​thirty-five​ ​minutes​ ​earlier​ ​than​ ​scheduled.​ ​He​ ​checked​ ​the​ ​documents​ ​and​ ​checked​ ​his​ ​own​ ​readiness.​ ​Because​ ​he​ ​had​ ​to​ ​present​ ​his​ ​novel​ ​as​ ​best​ ​as​ ​he​ ​could.

 

As​ ​it​ ​neared​ ​Victor​'​s​ ​interview.​ ​Suddenly​ ​a​ ​pretty​ ​girl​ ​in​ ​staff​ ​uniform​ ​walked​ ​towards​ ​him.​ ​She​ ​smiled​ ​softly,​ ​"​Hello,​ ​you​'​re​ ​Mr.​ ​Victor​ ​McCarthy,​ ​right?​"

 

The​ ​young​ ​man​ ​suddenly​ ​looked​ ​up​ ​at​ ​the​ ​young​ ​woman​ ​when​ ​he​ ​heard​ ​his​ ​name.​ ​Before​ ​answering​ ​in​ ​a​ ​frantic​ ​tone,​ ​"​Yes.​"

 

"​May​ ​I​ ​have​ ​your​ ​documents,​ ​please?​ ​Then​ ​in​ ​two​ ​minutes​ ​walk​ ​to​ ​the​ ​left,​ ​keep​ ​going​ ​straight.​ ​The​ ​interview​ ​room​ ​is​ ​at​ ​the​ ​end​ ​of​ ​the​ ​hallway.​ ​The​ ​door​ ​on​ ​the​ ​right​ ​hand​ ​side,​"​ ​said​ ​the​ ​beautiful​ ​woman.

 

"​Okay,​"​ ​replied​ ​the​ ​young​ ​man​ ​with​ ​black​ ​hair.

 

Both​ ​hands​ ​handed​ ​a​ ​large​ ​brown​ ​envelope​ ​of​ ​documents​ ​to​ ​the​ ​young​ ​office​ ​worker.​ ​Before​ ​the​ ​beautiful​ ​woman​ ​walked​ ​away​ ​from​ ​him.​ ​She​ ​heads​ ​to​ ​the​ ​room​ ​where​ ​he​ ​will​ ​be​ ​interviewed.

 

The​ ​young​ ​man​'​s​ ​heart​ ​pounded​ ​fast​ ​once​ ​more,​ ​it​ ​was​ ​as​ ​fast​ ​as​ ​the​ ​day​ ​he​ ​submitted​ ​his​ ​application​ ​online.

 

Beautiful​ ​gray​ ​eyes​ ​stared​ ​at​ ​the​ ​clock​ ​attached​ ​to​ ​the​ ​wall.​ ​But​ ​the​ ​sight​ ​he​ ​saw​ ​was​ ​a​ ​blur.​ ​Victor​ ​then​ ​turned​ ​to​ ​look​ ​at​ ​the​ ​watch​ ​on​ ​his​ ​wrist​ ​instead.​ ​He​ ​stared​ ​intensely​ ​at​ ​the​ ​second​ ​hand​ ​of​ ​the​ ​watch.​ ​The​ ​more​ ​excited​ ​the​ ​more​ ​the​ ​second​ ​hand​ ​on​ ​the​ ​watch​ ​seems​ ​to​ ​move​ ​more​ ​slowly.​ ​And​ ​at​ ​the​ ​end​ ​of​ ​two​ ​minutes,​ ​Victor​ ​did​ ​as​ ​the​ ​young​ ​woman​ ​had​ ​told​ ​him​ ​a​ ​moment​ ​ago.

 

When​ ​the​ ​young​ ​man​ ​walked​ ​to​ ​the​ ​front​ ​of​ ​the​ ​interview​ ​room,​ ​a​ ​big​ ​hand​ ​clenched​ ​into​ ​a​ ​fist​ ​before​ ​gently​ ​knocking​ ​on​ ​the​ ​door.

 

"​Come​ ​in,​"​ ​a​ ​mysterious​ ​man​'​s​ ​voice​ ​replied​ ​to​ ​a​ ​knock.

 

White​ ​palms​ ​spread​ ​out​ ​and​ ​pushed​ ​the​ ​large​ ​door​ ​open.​ ​The​ ​chilling​ ​air​ ​of​ ​the​ ​air-conditioner​ ​blew​ ​out.​ ​This​ ​causes​ ​Victor​ ​to​ ​tremble​ ​in​ ​cold​ ​for​ ​a​ ​moment.

 

Two​ ​large​ ​feet​ ​led​ ​the​ ​tall​ ​and​ ​slender​ ​figure​ ​to​ ​stand​ ​beside​ ​the​ ​little​ ​dark​ ​brown​ ​wooden​ ​chair.​ ​About​ ​a​ ​meter​ ​and​ ​a​ ​half​ ​away​ ​from​ ​the​ ​chair​ ​there​ ​was​ ​a​ ​large​ ​white​ ​long​ ​table.​ ​There​ ​were​ ​two​ ​men​ ​and​ ​two​ ​women​ ​sitting​ ​behind​ ​the​ ​table,​ ​in​ ​the​ ​corner​ ​of​ ​the​ ​room,​ ​the​ ​young​ ​woman​ ​who​ ​had​ ​just​ ​met​ ​Victor​ ​two​ ​minutes​ ​ago​ ​was​ ​also​ ​sitting​ ​there.

 

"​Please,​ ​have​ ​a​ ​seat.​"​ ​said​ ​one​ ​of​ ​the​ ​judges.

 

Victor​ ​swallowed​ ​a​ ​huge​ ​gulp​ ​of​ ​his​ ​saliva​ ​before​ ​his​ ​trembling​ ​legs​ ​crouched​ ​down​ ​on​ ​the​ ​wooden​ ​chair.

 

"​Introduce​ ​yourself​ ​to​ ​us,​ ​what​'​s​ ​your​ ​name,​ ​how​ ​old​ ​are​ ​you,​ ​where​ ​do​ ​you​ ​live?​ ​What​ ​is​ ​your​ ​occupation?​ ​Do​ ​you​ ​have​ ​a​ ​pen​ ​name​ ​to​ ​write​ ​fiction?​ ​And​ ​what​ ​type​ ​of​ ​novels​ ​do​ ​you​ ​write?​"

 

The​ ​question​ ​that​ ​was​ ​fired​ ​like​ ​a​ ​hail​ ​of​ ​bullets​ ​caused​ ​the​ ​black-haired​ ​young​ ​man​ ​to​ ​show​ ​a​ ​slightly​ ​awkward​ ​face.​ ​Victor​ ​quickly​ ​gathered​ ​his​ ​concentration​ ​and​ ​thoughts​ ​"​My​ ​name​ ​is​ ​Victor​ ​McCarthy.​ ​I​ ​am​ ​twenty-eight​ ​years​ ​old,​ ​live​ ​in​ ​Brooklyn.​ ​As​ ​for​ ​my​ ​career​ ​now,​ ​I​ ​don​'​t​ ​have​ ​a​ ​main​ ​job.​ ​The​ ​pen​ ​name​ ​I​ ​use​ ​to​ ​write​ ​the​ ​novel​ ​is​ ​my​ ​real​ ​name​ ​and​ ​the​ ​genre​ ​of​ ​the​ ​novel​ ​I​ ​write​ ​is​ ​only​ ​fantasy.​”​ ​He​ ​replied​ ​concisely​ ​and​ ​clearly.

 

But​ ​the​ ​four​ ​committees​ ​stared​ ​at​ ​each​ ​other​ ​in​ ​bewilderment​ ​“​You​'​re​ ​twenty-eight,​ ​but​ ​you​ ​don​'​t​ ​have​ ​a​ ​job?​ ​And​ ​where​ ​did​ ​you​ ​get​ ​the​ ​money​ ​from?​”​ ​asked​ ​one​ ​of​ ​the​ ​committees.

 

“​When​ ​I​ ​was​ ​in​ ​studying,​ ​I​ ​studied​ ​and​ ​worked​ ​part-time.​ ​After​ ​graduating,​ ​I​ ​worked​ ​for​ ​over​ ​three​ ​years​ ​before​ ​quitting.​ ​I​ ​am​ ​currently​ ​using​ ​my​ ​savings.​ ​I​ ​don​'​t​ ​have​ ​a​ ​main​ ​job​ ​because​ ​I​ ​love​ ​writing​ ​novels​ ​more,​ ​and​ ​my​ ​main​ ​job​ ​gives​ ​me​ ​less​ ​time​ ​for​ ​my​ ​novels.​”

 

Victor​'​s​ ​answer​ ​had​ ​eased​ ​the​ ​committees​'​ ​suspicions​ ​“​We​ ​have​ ​read​ ​your​ ​short​ ​story​ ​and​ ​your​ ​novel​ ​that​ ​you​ ​sent​ ​us​ ​to​ ​consider​ ​about​ ​two​ ​months​ ​ago​ ​is​ ​quite​ ​interesting.​ ​But​ ​we​'​d​ ​love​ ​to​ ​hear​ ​more​ ​from​ ​you.​ ​I​'​m​ ​sure​ ​you​'​ll​ ​have​ ​more​ ​ideas​ ​than​ ​in​ ​the​ ​submitted​ ​novels.​ ​I​ ​think​ ​the​ ​four​ ​of​ ​us​ ​are​ ​now​ ​ready​ ​to​ ​hear​ ​you​ ​present​ ​your​ ​novel​ ​for​ ​us,​ ​Victor.​”

 

When​ ​one​ ​of​ ​the​ ​judges​ ​finished​ ​speaking.​ ​The​ ​young​ ​woman​ ​in​ ​the​ ​corner​ ​of​ ​the​ ​room​ ​picked​ ​up​ ​the​ ​clock​ ​to​ ​reckon​ ​time.

 

"​You​ ​have​ ​three​ ​minutes.​"

 

“​May​ ​I​ ​stand​ ​up​ ​to​ ​present?​”​ ​asked​ ​the​ ​young​ ​man.

 

"​Sure,​ ​take​ ​it​ ​as​ ​you​ ​wish.​"

 

Victor​ ​got​ ​up​ ​from​ ​his​ ​chair​ ​and​ ​began​ ​to​ ​present​ ​his​ ​fantasy​ ​novel.​ ​The​ ​young​ ​man​ ​tried​ ​to​ ​make​ ​the​ ​most​ ​of​ ​those​ ​three​ ​minutes​ ​as​ ​he​ ​could.

 

And​ ​when​ ​the​ ​time​ ​was​ ​up,​ ​Victor​ ​crouched​ ​back​ ​down​ ​to​ ​sit​ ​on​ ​the​ ​chair.​ ​Light​ ​gray​ ​eyes​ ​stared​ ​at​ ​the​ ​committees​ ​who​ ​were​ ​quietly​ ​talking​ ​to​ ​each​ ​other​ ​as​ ​if​ ​they​ ​had​ ​secrets.

 

One​ ​of​ ​them​ ​said​ ​"​Okay,​ ​now​ ​the​ ​interview​ ​is​ ​over.​ ​You​ ​can​ ​go​ ​back​ ​and​ ​rest.​ ​No​ ​later​ ​than​ ​midnight​ ​today​ ​we​ ​will​ ​send​ ​you​ ​an​ ​email​ ​to​ ​let​ ​you​ ​know​ ​if​ ​we​ ​will​ ​accept​ ​your​ ​novel​ ​or​ ​not.​”

 

"​Yes,​ ​Ma​'​am.​"​ ​replied​ ​the​ ​black-haired​ ​man,​ ​standing​ ​up.​ ​"​Thank​ ​you,​"​ ​he​ ​said,​ ​walking​ ​towards​ ​the​ ​door​ ​with​ ​a​ ​slight​ ​stagger.​ ​Because​ ​his​ ​eyesight​ ​is​ ​not​ ​very​ ​good.

 

...

 

By​ ​the​ ​time​ ​Victor​ ​returned​ ​to​ ​the​ ​apartment,​ ​it​ ​was​ ​almost​ ​two​ ​o​'​clock​ ​in​ ​the​ ​afternoon.​ ​Because​ ​on​ ​the​ ​way,​ ​he​ ​stopped​ ​for​ ​lunch,​ ​so​ ​he​ ​returned​ ​to​ ​the​ ​accommodation​ ​a​ ​little​ ​late.​ ​The​ ​tall​ ​figure​ ​threw​ ​itself​ ​onto​ ​the​ ​bed​ ​in​ ​a​ ​face-down​ ​position.​ ​Both​ ​arms​ ​were​ ​tucked​ ​under​ ​the​ ​soft​ ​pillow.​ ​The​ ​heavy​ ​eyelids​ ​slowly​ ​closed.​ ​The​ ​handsome​ ​young​ ​man​ ​fell​ ​asleep​ ​in​ ​exhaustion.

 

Late​ ​at​ ​night,​ ​Victor​ ​was​ ​startled​ ​by​ ​the​ ​sound​ ​of​ ​lightning.​ ​Outside​ ​the​ ​apartment,​ ​there​ ​were​ ​huge​ ​black​ ​clouds​ ​and​ ​heavy​ ​rain.​ ​But,​ ​fortunately,​ ​the​ ​electricity​ ​in​ ​the​ ​room​ ​is​ ​still​ ​working​ ​normally.

 

10:48​ ​p.m.

 

Gray​ ​eyes​ ​look​ ​at​ ​the​ ​time​ ​on​ ​the​ ​watch.​ ​Victor​ ​jumped​ ​out​ ​of​ ​bed.​ ​He​ ​hurriedly​ ​turned​ ​on​ ​his​ ​computer​ ​to​ ​check​ ​the​ ​e-mail​ ​from​ ​the​ ​publisher​ ​he​ ​had​ ​interviewed​ ​earlier​ ​this​ ​morning.

 

When​ ​the​ ​big​ ​computer​ ​turns​ ​on,​ ​the​ ​colorful​ ​screen​ ​also​ ​notified​ ​him​ ​of​ ​an​ ​unread​ ​email.​ ​His​ ​long​ ​and​ ​slender​ ​finger​ ​clicked​ ​open​ ​the​ ​mail​ ​with​ ​his​ ​heart​ ​beat​ ​fast.

 

'Dear ​Mr.​ ​Victor​ ​McCarthy

 

A​ ​fantasy​ ​novel​ ​that​ ​you​ ​have​ ​sent​ ​us​ ​for​ ​consideration.​ ​We​ ​have​ ​to​ ​express​ ​our​ ​deepest​ ​condolences​ ​that​ ​your​ ​work​ ​is​ ​not​ ​yet​ ​the​ ​work​ ​that​ ​we​ ​are​ ​looking​ ​for.

 

From ​FTSstories​ ​publisher​'

 

“​Sigh,​ ​the​ ​twenty-fourth​ ​time.​”​ ​the​ ​tall​ ​black-haired​ ​man​ ​sighed.

 

This​ ​was​ ​yet​ ​another​ ​time​ ​he​ ​had​ ​to​ ​face​ ​rejection.​ ​This​ ​caused​ ​Victor​ ​to​ ​remain​ ​silent​ ​for​ ​a​ ​while.

 

The​ ​young​ ​man​'​s​ ​face​ ​slowly​ ​burst​ ​into​ ​a​ ​smile,​ ​“​It​'​s​ ​just​ ​the​ ​twenty-fourth​ ​time,​ ​Victor.​ ​You​ ​did​ ​your​ ​best.​ ​Keep​ ​doing​ ​what​ ​you​ ​love.​ ​One​ ​day​ ​someone​ ​will​ ​appreciate​ ​what​ ​you​ ​love.​ ​Fighting​!​"​ ​Victor​ ​said,​ ​cheering​ ​himself​ ​up​ ​like​ ​before,​ ​having​ ​a​ ​positive​ ​outlook​ ​instantly​ ​brightened​ ​him​ ​up.