Fallen stars

Nebula

I wake up to the stars everyday. They are always there. Tempting me to reach out and grab one but they are too far away.

I reach around my room from my bed. Looking for my cane. Sometimes having a cane makes me feel old, but I understand that it's necissary if I plan to make my way around. The tapping is my only sense of direction.

Still feeling around for it i hear my mother come into my bedroom.

" oh nebula! Your cane fell over again let me get that" her feet patter across the hardwood flooring of my bedroom as I sit up groggy and whimper.

"Mommy it's ok . I am ok."

"But honey you need your cane to... Um... to" she stuttered.she's never gotten over the whole 'your daughter is blind ' scenario. I mean yes I was born this way, but she just wants to protect me.

" to be my eyes. I know mommy. I am 17 now."

She started to say something but cut herself off. I pushed myself off the bed and felt around for my cane. My hand grazes over the leathery handle and I wrap the cord round my wrist. I've done this my whole life and she acts as if at any moment I am gonna wake up with amnesia and forget that I'm blind.

Today's the first day of eight grade and I am thoroughly excited. Just two weeks ago I got to meet my teachers and find my seat. My disability has some perks. Such as I get to spend a whole day at the most exciting place ever! Two weeks before I am supposed too! That whole day I was being lead around from class to class counting taps until they were permanently stuck in my memory.

I get dressed swiftly. Grabbing a t-shirt off the rack with ease. Pulling it over my head slickly. I crouch down and take a pair of jeans off the shelf and slip them on in a easy, gentle manner. My mom purposely makes all my pants and shorts jean material so they match all my shirts. With the exception of the occasional yoga pants which also match every shirt in my closet.

I slip on my converse and grab my school bag rushing out the door. I only live a block away from school so it's not to hard to navigate the sidewalk to miracle high. My mom thought it was the perfect school since I apparently need a 'miracle' but I am just fine like this. I mean , I would love to be able to see the world, but I am perfectly fine with my stars. I just need to reach a little farther to grab one.

As I tap across the sidewalk munching on the creamy pastry thing that my mother had shoved in my lunchbox, I listen and count. Counting is one of my many talents that i obviously need for survival. Here in Chicago, Not many blind people get around, but fortunately for me i can hear just fine.

" 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31" I start to count out loud after the pastry is finished. It takes one hundred and seven taps with a two second pause between each tap and according to my mom the school was two hundred and fourteen feet exact away from our door. Therefore signaling if i can make it to school in 107 taps i move two feet per tap.

I start to feel eyes stare at me. Hearing the usual talk, But the only difference was somebody was directly following me. I could tell just by the feeling of somebodys watching me. I stop in my tracks as the person behind me runs into me with a umph. They were closer to me than i anticipated. I hear them stagger up picking up what ever belongings they had dropped in the process of running into me.

" Um, Im sorry. I suppose you'd think i was following you but, i wasn't, i mean i was but not in the creepy stalker way. i was actually trying to determine if i should talk to you or not." the now obviously He person chokes out a faint laugh obviously feeling embarrassed. His blabbering has gotten me all confused. I am rather familiar with gossip about myself, But never has somebody spoken to me before.

" Its ok" I manage to say. I feel nervous about talking to him for some reason.

" so are you new here?" He asks this so casually it bothers me.

" yea, how can you tell?"

"I can't."

"Why not?"

"Because I'm new too" his response startles me.

"Really?"

"Yep" once again I feel nervous about talking to him but I honestly have no clue why. I kinda enjoy the feeling but the inevitable presence of that feeling is over welming.

" oh, that's cool I guess." I speak cautiously weary bout starting new friendships.

" ya. Oh just so we are clear I am aten"

"Aten? Isn't that a asteroid?"

"Yep, how about you. What's mystery girls name" mystery girl. Really.

"Nebula, my names nebula"

" Hmm pretty name" I automatically feel my checks warm up. No body has ever called me pretty. Except for once a month ago. But that's the reason I can't love again. He broke me, told me he cared about me. But no he dumped me when I thought I would marry him. He realized I was a useless person just because I couldn't look at him and say he looked good and mean it.

"Thanks" I say shyly suddenly wondering if I had made a real friend. I've only had so many friends, let's try 5.

" you are very welcome miss. Nebula" he laughed a little. Then his foot steps stopped. I stop and turn around honestly hoping I am facing him.

"Are you all right"

"Yea. Yea I'm fine. I just forgot for a moment that u couldn't see that"

"See what"

"I bowed acting all gentlemen like but looks like that's not gonna work"

"Ohhh well that's ok"

" ya I know"

" come on let's keep walking" I start to hear his footsteps come back so I start walking too.

The rest of the walk was silent and pitiful. I felt embarrassed and probably had lost the chance at a new found friendship. one hundred and seven finally rolled around and we entered the school.

" Hey Nebula, It was a pleasure meeting you. I sincerely hope to see you around." His words sounded so sincere. I simply smiled and nodded.

" yea, see you around Aten."

With those few words, I Found a friend in Aten. Possibly more complex feelings, but for now. A newly sparked friendship.