Chapter 1

Emilia, ten years later

" M om, I'll be fine," I state as I move around my room.

Ever since the accident, she's become a professional helicopter parent. As a teenager, I had rules to follow, of course, but I was an Honor Roll student, participated in several different sports, including cross country, track, and swimming, taught Sunday school to the pre-K class, and babysat every other week for the Nelsons so they could have a date night.

But the day of the accident, when she and my dad got to the hospital, everything changed. It was as if losing my sight meant I was no longer capable of being left alone. Well, technically, I shouldn't be left by myself because there are so many dangers I can't see, but that doesn't mean I'm incapable of being alone. I spent two weeks in the hospital, then went home with a home health care nurse to help my mom with my personal care and recovery. Once my leg was out of the cast, the physical therapist came to the house, as did an occupational therapist so I could adjust to my new life. The best thing that happened, in my opinion, was when my parents found a school for the blind. Once I was no longer in my casts, I went away and was with others like me.

There, I was able to learn adaptive living skills so I could take care of my own personal hygiene, learn how to put my clothes away so I'd know what I was picking out, fold my money to make sure I didn't give the wrong bill to a vendor, and keep my surroundings clean. The best thing, though, was when I was taught to read Braille, and use computers that were specially made for visually impaired or blind people. Because of that, I was able to get a job at the sawmill as a receptionist once I graduated from high school. I've since moved to inputting orders that come in, but the confidence I built having a job went a long way toward me feeling more normal.

That part was difficult, since I was unable to go back into the building where my friends and I had spent so much time together, laughing and joking. So, once I graduated from the school for the blind and was back home, I was homeschooled in order to get the credits I needed to graduate. It didn't matter if I didn't walk with my class; I no longer cared and in fact, felt guilty about the fact that I survived when my friends died. In short, while I was glad I was still breathing, my life had been condensed to the four walls I lived in, and it was boring .

Which is why my mother is so upset with me right now. My aunt put a tiny home on her land for me so that I could get some independence, and my mother doesn't like it one bit. But Aunt Della has promised that she'll come by twice a week and check the automated litter boxes I have for my two kitties, Phantom and Shadow, so that the waste receptacles are emptied, and additional litter is added as necessary.

I hear a sniffle and, using my other senses, locate her sitting on the end of my bed. Sitting next to her, I reach out for her hand and clasp it in mine. "Mom, it's time for me to be out on my own. At least as much as possible, given my circumstances. I can't live with you and Dad for the rest of my life."

She giggles through her tears, then asks, "Why not?"

Knowing this conversation is going to be harder on her than me, I use a compassionate tone when I answer her. "Well, because I'm twenty-five now, and one of the reasons I thought you sent me to that school was so I could be as independent as possible."

"We did, I just worry, sweetie," she says.

"Mom, the house is right on Aunt Della's property. In fact, it's forty-two steps from my porch to her side door, and Uncle Bud built a covered walkway so I wouldn't get wet if it happens to be raining."

"What about cooking?" she questions.

"Aunt Della and I plan to meal prep on Sundays, so I have lunch and dinner to reheat throughout the week. And you know I'll probably eat with her and Uncle Bud a few times a week as well. I swear her love language is food."

Mom starts laughing. "Yeah, you're right about that one. My sister is too much sometimes."

"Plus, Bonita is going to take me to the grocery store so I can get snacks and whatnot. She's also going to help me get everything organized and arranged so I can move around as easily as possible. It's going to be fine, Mom. The only difference is Bonita will come to my house three times a week."

"She's been a godsend, hasn't she?" Mom asks.

Smiling to myself, I answer with a nod of my head. "Definitely."

Bonita is one of the aides from the school who has become a good friend. While she still works for the school, she comes by and helps me with those tasks I cannot do on my own once she's off. We have a lot in common; we're close to the same age, and enjoy the same music, food, and even talking about guys. We have girl's night out and she does my makeup and hair for me, despite the fact I can't see anything. According to her, she's just enhancing my natural beauty.

"When are you going to the house to get everything sorted?" Mom asks. "I'd really like to see it."

"If you want, we can go over now. I'll take some of this stuff, too."

"Then that's what we'll do. Let me get your dad to load all of this, then we'll head out."

"Oh, honey, this is so cute!" Mom exclaims.

I'm sitting on the couch while she checks out every nook and cranny in my tiny house. "Bonita is coming over on Saturday so we can label everything," I reply. "But honestly, it's so small, it's going to be pretty easy to maneuver around, don't you think?"

"I like that each bedroom has its own bathroom, plus there's a half bath for guests," Mom says.

"When Aunt Della went to the tiny home dealership, she explained the situation. They were able to do some customizations on this particular home, making it user friendly for me to traverse through," I tell her, standing and reaching out my hand for her to take. "Let me show you."

We walk over to the front door, and I show her the alarm pad that's been installed with braille numbers, as well as visual ones. "That's pretty cool," she murmurs when I demonstrate how I can tell the door is locked.

"The sliding glass door has the same thing, and all the light switches are labeled as well. Bonita is going to do the shelves in the fridge, my closet, and the drawers and cabinets in the kitchen. We'll set up the closet just like I have at home, too," I say, as we walk through the house.

I'm beyond excited, even though it's a little bit scary to be on my own after having someone around all the time. But I have a landline as well as my cell phone, and it's specially made for visually impaired or blind people, so the numbers also have braille on the buttons. It's also been programmed specifically so I just have to hit one number in order to reach emergency services.

"You'll let me and Daddy grocery shop and fill your cupboards," she states.

"Mom, you don't have to, I make good money."

"Sweetie, when you were born, we set up an account specifically for you to use however you wanted to use it. The insurance settlement covered your schooling and training, so it's just been sitting there, and the balance has been collecting interest."

"Are you insisting?" I tease.

"Of course, I am!" she exclaims.

"Well then, I guess when we get done on Saturday, we're going to the grocery store to stock up."

"Sounds like a plan to me," she replies. "Now, how about we swing by Chicken Express and pick up a family meal for dinner?"

"I'm good with that," I say as I carefully check all the doors before we walk outside to her car. "Did you notice how the steps are flatter than normal?" I ask as she takes my arm once we're on the parking pad that Uncle Bud had poured. "It's so I don't lose my balance."

"Your aunt and uncle thought of everything, didn't they?" she asks once we're both inside and buckled up.

"They really did."

"I'm happy for you, Emi. This is going to be a good thing for you, I can feel it in my bones."