It was a sunny, frosty day. Snow glistened on the branches of trees. Silence… Only somewhere in the distance could barely be heard the voices of birds. Upon waking, Vera realised that a new day had begun. Vera — that was the name of a small fair-haired girl, thin, extraordinarily lively and cheerful, with a bright laugh. And Vera also loved to draw very much. She dreamed of touching a miracle.
Every night the girl asked the heavens to help her. The thing was, Vera had been blind from birth. She had never seen the world around her; she knew it only through smells, tastes, sensations and sounds. But she so wanted to wake up one day, open her eyes and see the endless blue sky above her, the bright sun, beautiful flowers, dazzlingly white snow. And most importantly, of course, her mum. The girl had never seen or known her mum; she lived in a children's home.
Vera continued to draw all the same. Yes, she couldn't see, but her soul was so pure and open that drawings appeared on paper by themselves and were remarkably vivid and bright. God didn't give her sight, but gave her something more important — the ability to love and feel, the capacity to rejoice in life, no matter what.
One day something happened that turned Vera's entire world upside down. Late in the evening the girl, as usual, was getting ready for bed. As soon as she closed her eyes, various visions appeared before her: lights of big cities, streams of cars passing in an endless procession past her windows, bright green grass, blooming apple trees, fluttering colourful butterflies, a boundless blue sea. These visions so captivated Vera that she didn't want to open her eyes.
"What a marvellous and beautiful world, full of wonders!" thought the girl. "I wish it could always be like this". Suddenly, amidst all this earthly beauty, Vera saw a silhouette slowly approaching her. It was a woman. The closer she came to Vera, the clearer it became that this was her mum. Although Vera had never seen her and didn't know her, the child's heart felt that it was indeed so.
"Mum! Mummy! Is it you?" the girl rushed towards the woman.
"Yes, my dear, it's me," her mum replied, smiled warmly and embraced Vera, and the girl felt so warm and cosy.
But the night was coming to an end. The girl felt something push her. The visions disappeared. She woke up. Hot tears streamed down her cheeks.
"Mummy…," Vera whispered softly.
"I'm here," suddenly came such a familiar and beloved voice. "I will always be by your side now, my dear". Vera felt tender arms embrace her and hold her close.
"Mum, where have you been all this time?", the girl sobbed.
"Once I made a terrible mistake. Forgive me. The angels told me about you, and I came back. I won't disappear again," regret and relief could be heard in the woman's voice.
"Angels never sleep," Vera whispered.
