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she wanted to them to treat her like they treated each other, to be included in the ups as well as the downs in their lives, and even to get in an argument now and then like normal siblings did.   But that would never happen , of course, because she wasn’t normal, was she?  
    Serena was special , different from her brothers and sister because of the emotional scars that had been inflicted, different because of the dark world she now lived in.   What they didn’t understand was that coddling her and keeping her wrapped in a protective bubble only made her more vulnerable and uncertain about stepping out into the real world.   By letting her withdraw from other people and not forcing, or at least encouraging her to venture outside the house and the security of her family, they had allowed her to wallow in her own fear and self-loathing for years.
    It was her aunt Rose that finally broke the cycle and sparked some life back into her.   “We need to have a talk, kiddo,” Rose told her one day when she’d stopped by to take Serena to lunch.
    “Sounds serious.”
    “It is.”   Rose paused until the waiter set their plates in front of them.   “Linguine at twelve o’clock, vegies at twelve thirty, bread at forty-five.”
    Serena grinned.   “Nothing at twelve fifteen?”
    “Yeah,” Rose eyed Serena’s plate, “a sprig of something green that looks decidedly uneatable.”
    “So what did you want to talk to me about?”
    “The cocoon you’re living in and how we are going to pry you out of it.”
    “Wh-what?”
    “You heard me,” Rose’s voice was firm.   “It’s called tough love and you’re about to get a h ealthy dose of it so listen up.   You were always shy, I’ll give you that, but who wouldn’t be with a stage hog like McKinley for a sister?   And don’t bother defending her,” she cut Serena off before she’d even opened her mouth, “I love McKinley to death but she’s a hedonistic drama queen who thinks her looks will carry her through life.   You have a heart, Serena; you just need to remember how to use it.”
    “That’s not fair,” Serena sulked as she twirled her fork in the linguine noodles.   “You know I can’t…that relating to other people is difficult ever since…it happened.   And in case you haven’t noticed, I’m blind so it’s not as if I can go out and meet new people whenever I want to.”   She swallowed hard, hating how feeble the excuses sounded even to her own ears.   “Besides, I’m happy with my life just the way it is.”
    “Are you?   Because I’m not blind, kiddo, and I don’t see a happy person when I look at you.   What I see is that same lost little girl you were seven years ago .  A nd if you’re still stumbling around in the dark , it’s not because you can’t see the world around you, it’s because you won’t even acknowledge that there is a world around you.”
    “Of course I acknowledge it,” Serena snapped.   “I’m a teacher .  I go out in it every day.”
    Rose’s tone was just as sharp as hers had been.   “And just what are you teaching your students, Serena?”
    “What is that supposed to mean?”
    “It means, are you teaching them that they are handicapped?   Because they are, or they will be by the time the school year ends if they continue learning from you.   Serena… you are the example they are being given as to the quality of life a blind person can have, and it’s not enough to pass off what you’ve accomplished in your career as the brass ring.”
    “I’m proud of myself for getting through college and becoming a teacher,” Serena replied stiffly.   “My students like me, they listen to me…”
    “That’s right, they listen to you because they adore you, but what are you telling them?   You told me that being blind has sharpened your other senses, that you can hear things sighted people filter out.   Don’t you think your students can hear the sadness and defeat in your voice?