Beneath the Blind Sky

Chapter 1

I wish I could see the stars, but I have a problem; I'm blind. I've been living underneath a blanket of stars for 16 years, and I still have yet to see the sun, stars, or the moon.

Have people tried to explain them to me?

Yes.

Did it work?

Haha; no.

Think about it. If you had to describe the stars to a person who's never seen anything, how would you describe it? You can't describe stars with colors, because I've never seen them. And I have no idea what "very bright" or "dim light" is either.
So, in summary, no one has been able to describe them to me. If you were able to, you'd be the first. Which is why I wish I wasn't blind. Why I wish I could see.

"Feeding time," Nanny chortles from outside my door. I grab my walking stick and walk through my room, which isn't that hard. All I have is a small bed pushed against the wall, a toilet on the other end of the room, and a small closet which contains 3 sets of clothes. I don't have any decorations as far as I can tell, just smooth walls. I got moved to this room just last week, although I have no idea why. Nanny just said "It's for the best."

I guess she was talking about my roommate, Mina. Mina may not have an arm, but she can see. And she told me everything. She's the only person I've ever met that's been dedicated to describing things to me. The color blue, my hair color, what our food looks like.

Mina says that the color of the sky is blue; and blue is happy and light. It's like a cool shower after a long hot day. It's like a mist while also being like a warm blanket. She said it reminds her of me.

According to Nanny, Mina was lying to me about everything; Nanny says the color blue is sharp like a needle, and it hurts to look at. The food we eat is colorful and pretty, not plain and grey. And I look like everyone else too; black hair, tan skin, and brown eyes. I'm boring and average. Like everyone else. Nanny says that the important thing about being boring is that people will like me more; I'll fit in. And I would be allowed to be with the rest of society if I wasn't a Useless; if I wasn't blind.

I still wish that I was rooming with Mina, but Nanny says that those lies are going to hurt my mind, and if my mind is rotted, I'll be useless to the community. Well, more useless than I already am.

"Thank you, Nanny," I say gratefully. Nanny places the food tray on my bed and pats me on the head.
"You're welcome," she says in her normal, cheery tone. I surprise her with a hug, then I hear something drop on the floor. "Charlotte! You just spilled your drink," she sighs.
My heart sinks with disappointment. I hate it when I disappoint Nanny; she always leaves soon after. And not having any company is worse than not being able to see my company.

"If I was still rooming with Mina, she would have warned me," I cry. I miss Mina; even though she was a liar.

"Charlotte!" Nanny grabs my tray and takes it out of the room. "No food until you stop complaining about Mina; the quicker you forget about her, the better," Nanny says as she marches out of the room.

I whimper as I hear the door lock. I step forward and feel the water splash on the floor in a puddle. I step forward to a dryer piece of tile and begin to pat the walls to navigate my way back to my bed.

I wish Mina was still my roommate, and I've already promised her that I'll never stop.