*Annabell's POV

  When I got home that night, my worries were washed away as Marry nor Catelyn were o be 'heard', running around in panid gathering a search party because I didn't get home before the dark. It was a huge relief.

  The beautiful st, still fresh in my memory and hard to believe that it's from this world, sparked something inside of me. Something I thought had died together with my mom. I felt like awakening from a atose state which I was in for almost two years now.

  *

  It's Sunday, already half past ten in the m. Marry and Catelyn usually don't e on Sunday so after a te breakfast sisting of cereals with milk and an e juice I am on my way to the forest.

  I don't remember sleeping this peacefully and without nightmares sihe day mom died. This was the first time the ess that the 'forest dream' brings me, sted lohan until I reached my house. I call it a forest dream, because under our piree is the only pce where I've ever dreamed it. For the past year and ten months, whenever I've goo bed, if I was capable of falling asleep at all, it has been a dreamless sleep or a sleep full of nightmares.

  Mom was always saying that my spatial perception, sharp reflexes araordinary imagination make up for my absence of sight. However, sihat fateful day my imagination is full of images of how could have my mom died.

  ....The smooth surface of the car body all scratched and creased. Mom's broken body with her lifeless hazelnut eyes...

  /fshback - when Annabell was arou/

  "Sweetie, you DO remember what rules had Chris told you to respe order for him to teach you what you knht? These rules are supposed to be followed on." Mother was scolding little Annabell.

  "But they were-"

  "No but, Annabell." said mom in a strict voice. "Chris did not teach you to fight kids at school."

  "But-" Mother's finger put on Annabell's lips in a silent warning stopped Annabell fruing any further.

  "You are different then other childreheart. You 't see, so you make up for it with other senses and they 't uand, what it is like. You shouldn't be angry at them, only because they don't uand you." mom patted Annabell's head soothingly.

  "I know how much you liked Chris and that it was hard for you since he passed away but none live forever my dear, you know that. Chris was a kind and strong man and I know you saw him also as a grandfather you've never known but don't fet he was an old man ah is getting more fragile with years."

  Now quiet, little Annabell's eyes filled with tears.

  "Oh, e here Annie. I miss him too you know... " mom's voice was softer now taking young Annabell into her arms using Annabell's favorite niame.

  "But you must remember that every sihiaught you is not to be taken lightly and has rules necessary to be followed. If he's watg you from high above, as I'm sure he is, you should make him proud at his student. You know he loved you too, honey."

  "Yes, you're right mommy." *sob* "I won't do it again, I'll make sure that master is proud of me."

  "That's my girl" praised mom and Annabell could tell she was smiling. "I am proud of you too, sweetie."

  /fshbad/

  I always resehat I was different than other children. I couldn't see expressions on their faces but I could feel and clearly tell that my presence was unwanted, evehey didn't stated it out loud, which wasn't actually that rare.

  What mom called me 'special' for, other children called me freak and avoided me for.

  I never found it special or strahat after a little training I was able to tell when somebody was somewhere around me and where exactly they were. I heard their breathing and then slight unfortable shifting when I pointed in the dire they stood, after they wao 'test' me.

  Every time I passed their 'test', they would yell "Freak!" and if not calliher hey alked to me again.

  *

  Nothing much really ged sihen.

  When I got to high school it stayed the same. When I walk around normally as the others do, they find it strange and I was even faced with a few accusations of that I just fake my blindness so I don't have to partake in practical csses and PE.

  So absurd. heless, if I showed them I have no problem with partaking ihey would either freak out or be vihat I fake my blindness. Because I love baseball. I was told that blind people usually 't do things like me. Personally I never felt any of my 'abilities', so to speak, to be special or anything.

  I got used to this kind of approae as the years passed by. However, there's been neeople started to see me in high school. Girls became even more unfriendly, critig not only my school performa mainly my looks now. Boys oher hand, became mgressive. Though their talk is kind of on the same topic as girls', they are mostly praising me. However, in a way no female beside a slut would find fttering, making the pany of most of the male popution of the local high sore unfortable with each passing day.

  *

  As all of these thoughts and memories occupied my mind, there popped one new. The st from yesterday is gone. I thought sadly. "I really hope it's not gone food..." I whispered to myself a little wishfully. There's school tomorrow so I had to leave the forest earlier.

  "'See' you tomorrow, mom." I said towards the old piree with a bitter half smile and headed home to prepare for another awful day of school.