AN: Hey everybody,
Here's the first chapter.
Hope you like it and if you want it to continue, please leave some feedback and a review! Thanks to everybody who put this story on alert and favourite :) It means a lot to me!

A special shout-out to Flora73 who was so lovely to review the preface. Thanks a lot :)

Chapter 1

The sun was shining as if there would be no tomorrow. The warm rays, which danced across my skin and the rough sand beneath my feet characterised my right element. This was where I felt at home. I guess it was a big city, on account of the noises from the many cars and people on the streets. But how would I know? I was blind; I could not see a thing.

My name is Isabella Marie Swan, and I was born blind. I was born with a malfunction in my eyes, or so I have been told. I guess my senses were heightened because of my blindness and I could hear very well indeed. Even though I had never seen my mom, I knew that she was a beautiful person. I could hear it by her voice, which held such compassion and love I had never experienced before. I could feel it by her touch, when she caressed my cheek and held me in her arms – in terms of love and comfort.

My mom remarried after having met Phil, and then they settled here in Phoenix, Arizona. I could tell by the way my mom described him, and by his gestures, that he was a fine guy. He would drop whatever that was in his hands to help and assist me. Phil bought me a pair of sunglasses, but Renée refused to give them to me. She said that my eyes were too beautiful to cover up. I wish I could take a look at myself in a mirror and confirm what she said.

If you were to encounter me on the street, I would most likely be seen with a white cane. If it was not for the cane, you probably would not be able to tell if I was blind or not. Renée said that I should be happy for being blind – I did not have to be subjected to the evilness that lures inside the hearts of some people. Sometimes I wished that I was deaf too, then I would not have to listen to Phil's and Renée's arguments. Mostly they were about me. Every time they raised their voices, I would cringe and find an escape in the confines of my bedroom.

"What happened to our dreams Renée?!" Phil yelled, and I could hear him slamming his fist on the wooden table in the kitchen. They wanted to travel and see the world, but it would be quite difficult with my physical inhibition.

"Don't blame her Phil, she did NOT choose to be blind" she argued, but I could hear her crying. It felt as if my heart would break soon if they continued this way. Phil was the best that had happened to her, and I would not be the hinder in their relationship. I sat on the bed and pulled my knees into my chest and cried silently. Crying always helped me release the tensions, but I never cried in front of others. What could I do to stop their fighting? Obviously, I was the source of their arguments, so I had to do something about my presence.

Silence took over until I heard creaking footsteps on the stairs. Phil slammed the door after him, after having entered their bedroom. My mom lingered outside my door. "You may enter" I said and moved aside, making room for her. She slowly opened the door with a creaky sound.

"Oh, needs oiling" she muttered and sniffed.

"That won't be necessary, mom" I said and smiled a humourless smile. She sighed and sat down next to me and enveloped me in a wet hug.

"You've been crying, mom" I said as a matter-of-factly and I could feel her nod. She kissed my forehead and sniffed my hair. She always did that for the sake of her own comfort.

"Mom, you don't have to think of me" I said and caressed her cheek, my own personal display of affection. I wanted her to be happy and her happiness came before mine. According to my priorities, that is.

"You just go travel, mom" I sighed, and held her hands. They were so soft and warm and she squeezed my hands.

"What will you do, honey?!" she asked with panic in her voice.

"I'll... I'll go to Charlie" I said. Charlie was my father, who was the chief of police in a town named Forks in Washington. Renée and Charlie split because of the monotonous everyday-life she had to endure in Forks. I guess everything worsened when she had me, a blind daughter.

"Honey... Are you sure?" she asked hesitantly. I knew that she was pondering on whether or not she should send me to Charlie. I nodded and she hugged me tightly and gave my forehead another kiss. I yawned and I felt so tired. She helped me change into a pair of pyjamas and then she tugged me.

A lot of thoughts went through my head in my constant darkness. I could start all over in Forks, meet new friends, go to school and act as normal as I could. It had been so long since I had last spent time with Charlie.

I had made my mind the following morning and decided to tell them.

"Phil, could you get me a one-way ticket to Forks, Washington?" I asked at the breakfast table. He dropped his fork on the table and I directed my face to the source of the noise. He was sitting to my left.

"Why on Earth would you go to Forks?" he asked, clearly in shock. I shrugged.

"I haven't seen Charlie for a while, and I think that I might need a slight change of atmosphere..." I said and took a sip of my orange juice.

"If you say so... What do you think Renée?" he asked. I could almost hear the smile in his hopeful voice.

"You can always change your mind honey, and we'll come and get you" she answered. Typical Renée, always giving me too many options, when she could make it so much simpler.

Later that day I found myself sitting in the garden, taking in the Phoenix sun. Forks was one of the rainiest town in the country of U.S. and I would definitely miss Phoenix.

"Hey honey, what are you doing out here all alone?" Renée asked as she silently walked over to me and joined me on the grass. The fact that I was able to find my way out to the garden without breaking something was beyond her. We always joked about that. Being blind does not help being uncoordinated. I was the living and walking example of that.

"So, Phil got the ticket and you'll be leaving early the day after tomorrow. Unfortunately, I won't be able to fly with you" she said and sounded regretful. I smiled and searched for her hand and patted it in a reassuringly manner. I did not mind, she did not need to see my panic-struck face when I was alone on that plane and headed towards my unforeseen future.

I spent the following day with Renée packing my clothes and belongings. I could hear her fighting back a sniff – she could not. I chose not to react and carried on packing. Later that day Renée took me out for a smoothie and we walked around, taking in the city I soon would leave, the noises, the smell – everything that made a big city a big city. Too bad I would never be able to see the city with my own eyes. She got me an iPod in which she put all my favourite songs in. Music was my passion. I could always find a song that suited my state of mind. Music was life and my salvation. If only I could play an instrument... I had often imagined myself making music, when I was listening to other musicians. It was a hopeless dream, one that would never come true.

The night consisted of the same routine: Renée would enter my room and chat for a bit, then tuck me in and kiss my forehead and hum a song for me. This night, however, would be the last time she would do it – we both knew that so I uttered three small words with a great meaning behind them:

"I love you" I said and fell asleep with a smile. I could hear her sighing in content before I drifted off.

The next day was hectic – to say the least. Phil carried me out to the car and we were late. Honestly, I was not surprised. Phil and Renée might look good together, but they were a deadly combo. But hey, you could always get a good laugh every now and then in their company.

"I'm going to ask somebody to assist you throughout the flight" Renée said and left me there with Phil. There was an awkward silence between us in the buzzing airport.

"I know why you're doing it Bella. Thank you" he said in a low tone. In acknowledgement. I nodded and gave him a small smile.

"Thank you for making her happy" I said.

"Bella, I found this lovely girl who is also going to Forks, and she would love to assist you" Renée said enthusiastically as she neared us. Who on Earth would assist me?

"Bella? I'm Alice Cullen! Nice to meet you!" a soft voice said and took my hand, and gave it a friendly squeeze. I smiled at her and reached my other hand out to her cheek to feel her face. I sensed a smile and that she was a bit shorter than I was. She took my hand and put it around her shoulder and led me away.

"We're going to be such good friends" she said happily and I could not help but feel some sense of security when I was with her. I trusted her, which was odd; it usually took a long time to earn my trust, but she just bounced into my life with her unconditionally kindness and blew me away.

"You have to meet my friends as well. They're in a band – they'll definitely love you" she babbled on, which made me smile. Maybe Forks was not that bad again.

AN:

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