Get your tissues. Some of the best stories are not our own, but draw upon the universality of human emotion.

An attractive young woman with a white cane carefully made her way up the steps of the bus. The passengers watched sympathetically as she paid the driver.

He looked into his overhead mirror. "Seat number nine is open."

Using her hands to feel the location of the seats, the blind lady walked down the aisle to seat number nine. She sat down and placed her briefcase on her lap.

Rendered sightless by a medical misdiagnosis, thirty-four year old Susan was blind. She found herself suddenly thrown into a world of darkness and self-pity.

Susan had once been a fiercely independent woman. Now she viewed herself as a powerless, helpless burden on everyone around her

No matter how much she ranted, cried, or prayed, Susan knew the painful truth was that her sight was never going to return. A cloud of depression hung over her once optimistic spirit. Getting through each day was an exercise in frustration. Susan was so insecure about performing the slightest task. She clung tightly to her husband, Mark.

Mark was an Air Force officer. He loved Susan with all of his heart. After she first lost her sight, he watched Susan sink into despair. He was determined to help his wife gain the confidence she needed to become independent again. Mark's background in the military had trained him well in handling sensitive situations. Yet he knew Susan's acceptance of her blindness was the most difficult battle he would ever face.

When Susan finally felt ready to return to her job, she wondered how she would get there. Before she had taken the bus. Now, she was too frightened to try. Mark volunteered to chauffeur Susan everyday even though he worked on the other side of the city.

This comforted Susan and fulfilled Mark's need to protect his wife. However, the arrangement became hectic and costly. He told Susan she was going to have to start taking the bus again.

She was angry. "I'm blind. How am I supposed to know where I am going? I feel like you are abandoning me."

Still Mark knew Susan had to do it. He promised her that each morning and evening he would ride the bus with her for as long as it took. And he did. For two weeks, Mark, in his military uniform, accompanied Susan to and from work each day. He taught her to rely on her senses, especially her hearing, to determine where she was. Mark befriended the drivers so they would watch out for her. Mark made Susan laugh even on those days when she would trip or drop her briefcase.

Each morning they made the journey together and Mark would take a cab back to his office. Even though this routine was even more costly and exhausting than the previous one, Mark knew in time Susan would be able to ride the bus on her own.

Finally, Susan decided she was ready to try the trip by herself. On Monday morning, before she left, she threw her arms around Mark. Susan's eyes filled with tears of gratitude for his loyalty, his patience, and his love. She said good-bye and they went their separate ways to work. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. Each day the trip went perfectly and Susan had never been more confident in herself.

On Friday, Susan took the bus. As she was paying the fare, the driver said, "Boy, I sure envy you."

Susan was near speechless. After all, she was blind. Finally, she uttered, "Why do you say that you envy me?"

"It must feel so good to be taken care of and protected like you are," the driver answered.

Susan still was puzzled. "What do you mean?"

The driver replied, "You know, every morning for the past week, a fine looking gentleman in a military uniform has been standing across the street watching you as you get off the bus. He makes sure you cross the street safely and he watches you until you enter the building. Then he blows you a kiss, gives you a little salute, and walks away. You are one lucky lady."

Tears poured down Susan's cheeks. Though she could not physically see him, she had always felt Mark's presence. She was fortunate, so very fortunate. Mark had given her a gift more powerful than sight, a gift she didn't need to see to believe - the gift of love that can bring light where there had been darkness.