A powerful and moving story of a future time, and a strange romance.
John DeLancy had been a rising star in Hollywood at the beginning of the 22nd Century, but a freak accident had stolen everything - his career, his looks, his girl, and most of all, his sight. Blinded, he struggles alone in a world of darkness, never knowing someone would reach out to him out of duty, and offer him her love.
Excerpt
"A dog?! You got me a seeing eye dog?!"
I was incensed. It wasn't bad enough that a pyrotechnic accident on the set of my fourth film, Nova Profundus, had scarred my face, blinded me, and ended what the New York Times had called "the promising career of John DeLancy." No, now my insurance agent was calling to tell me that my policy simply didn't pay enough to cover restoring my sight with either cybernetic or synth-flesh replacement eyes. I was going to be blind the rest of my life. To spend the rest of my days in perpetual darkness, never to see the sun again, never to see a woman's face - nothing. I would also probably be unemployed the rest of my life. Aside from the fact that there weren't that many screenplays that called for blind male leading or supporting roles, how could I take stage direction without being able to see the director? How could I read scripts? It would take years for me to master Braille, and I didn't think after I'd been "out of the loop" that long that Hollywood would even remember me, much less bend over backwards to accommodate this handicap. Why hire a real blind actor and have to make special and possibly expensive accommodations for his handicap when you can hire someone who pretends to be blind and do just as well for a lot less money? "Dammit, you can't do this to me! Come on! Cybereyes aren't that expensive!"
Mr. Anderson, my insurance rep, replied without hesitation, his voice strained. "I'm sorry, Mr. DeLancy, but that's just not going to be possible. Your policy's benefits have been used up. According to your physician, Doctor Shwarte, the pyrotechnic charge that blinded you...Well, I'm sorry to discuss this so bluntly, but let's face facts, sir. Your eyes were burned and destroyed. You received third degree burns to your upper face and head. Even your optic nerves are damaged. Good God, man! Don't you realize the extent of your injury? I'm having to call you on the phone myself because my secretary literally can't stand looking at you!" he said, then paused a moment, apparently taking a breath to calm down. "I'm sorry, Mr. DeLancy. I shouldn't have said that. No offense intended, sir, but let's be honest, here. Your face, sir, is totally destroyed. We've paid to have basic reconstructive work done, so you have hair and eyebrows and a nose again, but let's face it-your acting career is over."
"All right-so what if it is? You still can't just leave me blind the rest of my life!"
Professional Reviews
Heartwarming
A freak accident not only takes John Delancy's career and girlfriend it also takes his sight and leaves him in a world of darkness, struggling to survive with the meager social security checks from the government.
Little did he know that at the lowest point in his existence, his life would be forever changed by a female like none he'd ever met before.
Together, they learn about each other as they rebuild John's tattered life.
This is a story that will warm your heart even as it shocks you and shows you a glimpse into what the 22ed century might hold. Reviews by Chris ~~ Reviewed by Chris Bellar
Hilariously Delightful!
"Duty and Love" by J. Farris is one story you'll never forget. John DeLancy, a brilliant and talented actor, finds himself blinded and horribly disfigured when filming his latest movie. John cloisters himself away from the public eye, but soon discovers he can't make it on his own. Buffy, a neo-dog, is delivered to John to help in his everyday activities and to slowly pull him out of his seclusion. However, neither is prepared for the devotion and attraction they feel for one another. Enjoy this hilariously delightful tale of a love that sees beyond the outer shell and to the inner most depths of each one of us. Kim's Reviews~~Reviewed by Kim Gaona http://kimgaona.com
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