Orbs

Chapter One

There is somewhat of a family story that gets told every generation in mine. Several decades ago, a man and woman had a daughter. The pregnancy and birth were complicated but never the less, both mother and child made it through. The man, after kissing his wife in celebration, rushed past the Doctor and nurses to take a look at his new daughter. What he saw was horrifying. The infant's eyelids were sunken into her skull. He looked at the Doctor, confused and heartbroken.

" I'm sorry Mr. Durrie, but your daughter was born with no eyes."

"What do you mean? How is that possible?" Responded Mr. Durrie.

"Sweetheart? What's going on?" Mrs. Durrie asked from her bed. Mr. Durrie rushed back to his wife and held her hand firmly. He was shaking. The Doctor stood at the foot of the bed, stripping off his latex gloves.

"I'm sorry, but do to the complications of the pregnancy, your daughter was born eyeless..."

"Wh-what? Eyeless? How? Where is my baby!?" Shouted the distressed mother.

After wrapping the newborn up, a midwife headed over to the parents and laid the infant on her mother's chest. Just like any other baby, the eyeless one settled comfortably and rested. Despite not having eyes, The Durrie's daughter was perfectly healthy. After a week in the Hospital, and several tests, the family finally headed home to officially begin their new lives.

Mathew, the Durrie's son, was excited to meet his little sister. As soon as he heard the front door, he launched off the couch and rushed over. Mr. Durrie entered first, taking the full force of his older child's glee.

"Can i see her? Can I?"

"Easy Matt. There's something you need to understand about your sister..."

Mrs. Durrie placed the baby carrier down and moved the blanket hiding her daughter's face. Mathew immediately peeked in and stared. The family was silent. All that could be heard was the soft breathing of the newborn.

"...What is wrong with her?" Mathew finally asked. Both his parents patted his shoulders.

"You remember how Mom had a tough time when she had your baby sister inside?"

"Yeah?"

"There were a few complications and....so...Aurelia was born with no eyes. She won't be able to see, but she'll still grow up happy and healthy. You'll protect her like a good big brother, right?" Asked Mrs. Durrie.

"Of course.....but...she looks like a skeleton..."

Wanting young Aurelia to have a normal childhood and life was the most important thing to them. So they found a solution to the concave eyelids. Glass eyes would do the trick, but Mr Durrie only wanted the best for his little girl, to show everyone that no matter her defect, she was still thoroughly loved. He had two golden orbs fitted perfect for her empty eye sockets.

Everywhere Aurelia went growing up, her "eyes" seemed to glow. People would ask what happened but it wasn't anything special. She was just born with no eyes. She felt how others would stare and hear the gasps they gave. It never bothered her. Like all other kids, she grew up playing and even getting into trouble. If someone had a problem, she would stare in their direction with her endless shining gold orbs. It always did the trick.

The older Aurelia got, the more she realized her life wouldn't ever be just like everyone else. She didn't truly care, but it did tickle the back of her mind. Mathew spent his childhood making sure Aurelia was treated fairly and grew up strong and stubborn. The only time she cried was when he was leaving for college, and those two golden orbs seemed to shine even brighter. She held onto Matthew tight, refusing to let go even as the taxi driver honked his horn.