It was a sunny, frosty day. Snow glittered on the branches of trees. Silence… Only somewhere in the distance could barely be heard the voices of birds. Waking up, Vera realized that a new day had begun. Vera was the name of a small fair-haired girl, thin, unusually active and cheerful, with a ringing 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 that Vera had been blind from birth. She had never seen the world around her; she knew it only by 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 mother. The girl had never seen or known her mother; she lived in an orphanage.
Vera continued to draw as before. Yes, she could not see, but her soul was so pure and open that drawings appeared on the paper by themselves and were amazingly lively and bright. God did not give her sight, but gave her something more important — the ability to love and feel, the ability 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 going to bed. As soon as she closed her eyes, various visions appeared before her: the lights of big cities, streams of cars passing in an endless procession past her windows, bright green grass, blooming apple trees, fluttering colorful butterflies, a boundless blue sea. These visions so captivated Vera that she did not want to open her eyes.
"What a wonderful and beautiful world, full of miracles!" thought the girl. "I wish it could always be like this." Suddenly, among 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 mother. Although Vera had never seen her and did not know her, the child's heart felt that it was indeed so.
"Mom! Mommy! Is it you?" the girl rushed towards the woman.
"Yes, my dear, it's me," her mother answered, smiled tenderly and hugged Vera, and the girl felt so warm and cozy.
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.
"Mommy…," 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 embracing her and pulling her close.
"Mom, where have you been all this time?" the girl sobbed.
"Once I made a big mistake. Forgive me. Angels told me about you, and I came back. I won't disappear again," regret and relief were heard in the woman's voice.
"Angels never sleep," Vera whispered.
