Eye Eye Captain

When I was in third grade, I had to wear an eyepatch over my right eye because I had a very bad astigmatism.

The Doctor wanted my weak eye to get more use, so they covered my good eye in hopes that bad one could get stronger.

I don’t think I need to tell you how it was, having to wear an eyepatch at 8 years old. Being laughed at. Mocked. Bullied.

Being called a pirate.

Years later, I read in a book that pirates use to wear eyepatches by choice. Because by covering one eye during the day, the pupil never dilates from the light. So when night would fall, the pirates would switch the patch to the other eye, and the formerly covered eye would have amazingly clear vision.

Able to see clearly through the dark while at sea.

Able to take in more stars and see ships in the shadowy distance.

Looking back now, really I wish they were right. I wish I was a pirate.

Maybe then I’d be able to see through the dark.

Maybe then I could have seen the danger coming.

Maybe then I would have set sail on a better course.