I couldn't believe how good it felt to have clean hair, and to just be clean. Kat and I discussed my hair while I was having my bath and decided I should cut it as soon as possible so it wouldn't get in the way. We thought just past my shoulders would look good. Christmas decorating had been a lot of fun. I had done it with my parents so many times but I had never seen the lights or how the ornaments sparkled. The kids really enjoyed it too. I had slept well that night and had my first rehab session scheduled for the next afternoon. April and I had spent the whole afternoon and evening together. She seemed loathe to leave me. I think she was afraid I wouldn't wake up and she'd be left alone again.

I rolled over to the window in my wheelchair and looked down. The roads were busy that day I could see cars moving back and forth and people walking on the sidewalk. Part of me wished I was down there, experiencing all of it. Another part of me was worried I was dangerous, after the explosion that killed my family. Richard knocked on my door.

"Good morning Amber, time to get you to lessons, Oh, you're dressed. Good job. How are you feeling?"

"I'm feeling good, Richard. Very good."

"I'm glad to hear it."

He took the handles of my wheelchair and pushed me towards the classroom. I had been to schools when before the accident. But as everything this was a brand-new experience, I could see the classroom and my fellow students. It seems like this was the nine and above class. There were three instructors, it seems one was specifically for me. She took me through several books trying to see if I understood anything, of course I could not. I noticed a boy touching the pages of what appeared to be a blank book, at least from where I was sitting. I thought that must be braille. I pointed at the book he was reading.

"Mrs. Arya, could I try one of those books?"

"I suppose it wouldn't hurt; We've tried everything else."

I closed my eyes and I read a few lines from book. My fingers were way more sensitive. I only needed the lightest of touches. When I opened my eyes, she looked a bit shocked.

"You understand braille? Amazing. We can work with that. I don't have anything right now, but tomorrow I will bring a book with English letters and words with braille you can use that to learn."

"There are books like that?"

"Of course, sighted people learn braille too. Look at you."

"Thank you, Mrs. Arya."

"We can use this for math too, numbers. Oh, thank goodness, you had me worried."

"In the meantime you read that book and I'll get you another. Just to make sure you keep in practice."

April was on the opposite side of the room, she kept glancing at me. I could tell she was worried about me, I smiled at her to let her know I was fine. She looked a bit nervous as well. When we finished class and lunch and were wheeling our way to the Rehab room she stopped about ten feet from the door.

"I'm not sure this is a good idea, maybe its too soon, I mean your legs are probably still weak."

"My legs are fine April, and so are yours."

"I don't think this is the right day for it, I mean its just after thanksgiving."

"Well I'm not going to miss my rehab. You can wait out here if you want."

I started wheeling towards the room and I could hear her rushing to catch up.

"I thought it wasn't the right day for it?"

"I still think it's the wrong day, but if you start before me, you'll leave before I can and then I'll be stuck here alone again."

"If you're not ready, you're not ready."

She got a determined look on her face and pushed past me into the room. I smiled at her back. Glad I could give her the nudge she needed.

"I'm ready."

I rolled in after her. The rehabilitation trainer was a real giant. He was way taller than me. He was dark skinned, and he had massive muscles. He smiled when we came in. A woman came out from an office. She was younger looking but also very fit.

"Hi, I'm Geoff, and that is Karen. We are going to be helping you learn how to walk again. I hope you're both ready to work hard."

I nodded; April kept looking over her shoulder at the door we had entered. I poked her arm gently.

"You can do this."

She nodded.

Geoff looked at his tablet and then to me.

"Amber, you'll be working with me today."

Karen rolled April away from me and started helping her exercise her legs. Geoff rolled me towards the other side of the gym and kneeled so we could talk.

"Now Amber, I see here you just woke up from a coma, are you sure you're up to this?"

"I think I am, I was able to stand on my own, twice, well I mean I was using the bathroom sink, but I was strong enough I just, couldn't make them work how I wanted."

I motioned at my legs.

"Well the doctor has signed off, I just don't want to rush this, you could set yourself back."

"No, I have to try, I don't want April to see me leave."

"She'll understand."

"No, I just think, she wouldn't try if I wasn't here. I kind of pushed her into coming today. She was scared."

"Well okay, but if anything hurts you tell me right away."

I nodded and he reached down and helped me up. There were two bars in parallel and he held me up and I put my hands on them.

"Now Amber, I'm going to hold you the whole time here, just put one foot in front of the other."

"I don't know how."

"Watch me. You got those bars? Are you okay?"

I nodded and then he went to the other side of the bars and slid his socked foot along the ground and inched forward while holding onto the bars.

"Just like that, just slide your foot forward."

He moved around beside me and I could feel his strong hands around my waist.

"Now just slide one foot forward, that's it, then the other. Looking good Amber, looking good."

The whole session was an hour, I was exhausted by the end of it. This new body I found myself in was not light and the last fifteen minutes he had me shuffling on my own without him holding me. Funny if someone were to say Nova Storm couldn't hold up her own body weight it would be laughable. I threw myself into rehab. I tried to go every day, but I wasn't allowed. I wanted to walk on my own. Having legs that worked, it was a miracle. When I wasn't in rehab I was retraining myself to read with my eyes. April tried to keep up, but unlike her, I wasn't recovering from an injury, I was just learning to use my perfectly functional legs. I didn't realize how much I was hurting her with my drive to walk. I had been so much trauma that I couldn't talk about because then everyone would know I was lying, that I couldn't see outside my own situation.

I was young, and trauma is a strange beast. I didn't understand the trauma April was feeling. She had always been able to walk and now she struggled with it. Her body just wouldn't do what she wanted it to do. I spent time with her, but I didn't see her struggles. The days turned into weeks and by Christmas day I was walking with a walker. I had decided to do a cross-stich of April's favorite novel character, Enid. I even spelled her name out at the bottom. It was quite challenging, but it had helped me learn how to use my hands better. Its not like I had the money or ability to go out shopping. I even wrapped it myself. I shuffled to her room on Christmas morning.

I could see blood seeping out from under the door to her bathroom. I started slamming the door with my shoulder and crying for help. It was my first encounter with my newly forming super strength. I managed to burst the door open but soon found myself on the floor with no support my face in April's blood. I wish I had known; I wish I had looked harder. I just didn't understand. I could see she was still breathing as I laid there. I called for help again. Christmas day wasn't what I had expected that year. When April came back, I asked if we could be roommates.

The first day was rough, it was New Years eve. I didn't know how to talk to her. I didn't know what to say. I was terrible at social interactions. A lifetime of being blind had left me with a distinct inability to read people's body language. I was trying to learn. I could see frowns and smiles now and realize what those meant, but it wasn't instinctive. It never has been easy for me. New Years was always special for my family. It meant another year that I should have died in, I was alive, so it was big celebration. It made me miss my family more. I couldn't share that with April. We had never discussed her family, or why she was a ward of the state, or even how ended up in a wheelchair to begin with. I glanced over at her from my bed, she was rolled over on her side. Staring at the wall, away from me. I couldn't really get a read on what was going on in her head. I know now she was angry to be in a room with me. She thought they didn't trust her and had put me there to watch and make sure she didn't try again. It was a strain on our budding friendship. As was my complete inability to understand what she was going through. Which was very similar to my own trauma.

She was cold to me throughout the whole day she didn't speak to anyone. She refused to go for breakfast, lunch or supper. Uncharacteristic for her, she loved food in a way I would never understand. She just lay there staring at the wall. I did my best to not prod her too much. I wanted to fix everything. But even now, with all this power, there are some things I cannot make right. I heard the crowd roaring outside, looks like it was officially twenty-twenty-three. Another year and I was still alive. I laid in bed tears dripping onto my pillow. April must have heard my quiet sobs and rolled herself over and looked at me. Her eyes and nose were just as red as mine. I was shocked that she even bothered to ask.

"Are you okay Amber?"

"No, I'm not okay."

"What's wrong?"

"I have a feeling this was a special day for my family. And now I'm alone."

"It was a special day for my family too."

"Why was it special for your family?"

"It was my mother's birthday."

I sniffled a bit and wiped my tears off my face with my sleeve.

"Do you want to talk about what happened?"

"I, I am not sure."

"You don't have to, I just… well you can talk to me."

"You don't remember anything I don't want to fill your head with horror stories."

"It's okay I can handle it, I promise. It might help. I feel like I'm to blame for whatever happened and I can't really explain it to anyone. Just saying that out loud makes me feel a little better."

"You couldn't have blown up a whole building. Not like me, this was my fault."

"I don't think it was."

"We were at the restaurant for my birthday. A man came in and started shooting. My mom did her best to cover me up. My father tried to save my brother; It didn't help. It was in Gotham."

She was starting to cry. I did my best to slide across the floor and climb into her bed. I managed after a few minutes. I hugged her the way Kat had hugged me on the first night after I woke up. It was awkward I wasn't used to being so physically close to anyone. She sobbed into my chest and we hugged each other for a long time. I was crying myself. Just as much for my loss as for hers. When she'd calmed down a bit she continued.

"I was shot in the back and I couldn't feel anything below my waist. A hospital here in Metropolis said they could do surgery and they might be able to fix the damage, for free. I was sent to the hospital here, and then I was brought here to recover and learn to walk again. Its so hard. I just wish I had never asked to go to that restaurant for my birthday, but it was my favorite."

"You didn't know what would happen, you couldn't know. You just wanted to have a birthday party with your family."

She started to sob again, and I found myself rubbing her back like my mother used to when I was in pain. We fell asleep like that. Both of us crying. It was the first moment of true friendship between us, before we had been acquaintances but through our joint trauma we had bonded.

When I woke up the next morning it was still dark out. I was stiff and super warm. She was still snoring. It was difficult to extricate myself and get to my own bed with my still limited mobility. I pulled my blanket on and went back to sleep. I woke up to April poking my nose gently.

"You're going to miss breakfast sleepy head."

I struggled to wakefulness and then laughed. She was already dressed. When I had pulled off my nightgown and strapped my training bra on she looked, out of sorts with red cheeks. She was staring at me and I didn't know why. I pulled my superman shirt on which was quickly becoming my favorite shirt. It was still so baggy it hid my newly developing parts that I was not exactly comfortable with yet.

"Did I do something wrong?"

"No, no."

"I'm sorry, you just, your cheeks are all red and you look, I don't know like your not comfortable."

"I'm embarrassed about last night. Then I saw the…blood stains on your jeans. I realized you found me there, like that."

"Don't be embarrassed, I'm glad I found you, if I hadn't you wouldn't be here."

"Kat…Kat told me you broke open the door yourself. I saw the bruise. Does it hurt?"

She pointed and I looked down at my now shirt covered arm and shoulder.

"I barely noticed it, I have this feeling I'm used to being in pain."

"I can't believe you just changed right there like that."

"Why? Am I not supposed to?"

"No, well, yes, I don't know, its just I usually like some privacy when I'm getting dressed."

"I'm sorry, I'll make sure to change in the bathroom from now on."

"Its alright, you didn't upset me, I just noticed the bruise. I'm sorry I stared. I know you're feeling a bit awkward about this."

She pointed to her own chest, she was more developed then I was by this time. I really hadn't considered I would develop like this. My genetic disorder had interfered with puberty but it would seem I was getting hit by it with full force now. In the last month I'd had to replace my one bra twice.

"Does it hurt?"

"Its uncomfortable sometimes. But I wouldn't say it hurts."

"My chest ached when it first started. I remember being in tears some days."

"I don't think I feel pain like everyone else, I mean, like my pain scale is different. You know when they ask you is it a one or a three or a nine? I'm always at one."

She was in her wheelchair and I pushed myself up and leaned on my walker and we made our way to breakfast.

"That's probably why you're getting so much better at walking then I am, I'm in so much pain after the rehab sessions."

"I'm usually tired, but not in pain. My arms used to get shaky near the end, but I'm doing better now."

"You really are."

"I have no basis for comparison but I think my legs are fine and so is my body, I just seem to need to learn how to use it again. You aren't in the same place; You were injured and maybe it's still making connections. But you are getting better too. I bet by the end of January you'll be using a walker too."

"You look like an old lady with that thing."

"Maybe when you get one, we can have old lady races."

April laughed. It was a sound I hadn't heard often lately and it was music to my ears. I missed my family and I missed Eric but it was like I was building a new family with her. We sat at the same table, well I sat and she wheeled in and I noticed when I looked around that Sam wasn't there. Neither were her two friends. I looked back at April, it didn't seem she had noticed. I didn't say anything about it, but I would soon find out, Sam had passed away the night before. Cancer sucks.

Kat was the one who told me about Sam, I asked her about it when April was at her counseling session. She had died in her sleep just after midnight. I was starting to realize April had be right, we were the lucky ones. Yes, we had lost our families, but the other kids there, the ones with terminal illnesses, they maybe never had one, or had been abandoned. They never walk out of the facility alive. Not like we would eventually. Who would mourn for them? Only the nurses, doctors and staff of Precious Angels. I had learned quickly after the first child died, that children didn't die at Precious Angels, they were adopted by God and were happy with their new family. I know it was stupid and religious but it helped the other children deal with the loss. I had faced my death for my entire life. I was comfortable with the fact that one day I would just cease to exist, but it didn't do me any favors growing up. My parents weren't exactly open about my real condition, but children know. I knew. I didn't say anything about how it made me feel for their sakes, but I had some dark nights of the soul. Children shouldn't be faced with their own mortality. I had cried a few tears into Kat's shoulder. She had comforted me. My emotions were all over the place, I couldn't have said it then, but now I can say it was like being on an out of control rollercoaster. Hormones are a not easy when you're a teenage girl going through puberty.

I had been right, by Mid- January April was walking with a walker. We did have a few old lady races. Until she fell and hurt her knee. I don't think either of us regretted it. The director of the hospice was not amused by our antics. She was an older lady and she thought we were little terrors. The pair us could barely contain our snickers and giggles as she lectured us on proper decorum befitting young ladies and how we were an example to the younger kids. The younger kids loved our races and cheered us on. I'm fairly sure the nurses knew we were doing it but turned a blind eye for as long as they could. By the end of February there were a few new kids. Sam's two friends had been adopted by God as the winter turned to Spring. By May both April and I were walking without assistance. I was reading at a grade level far above my apparent age. Before, I would have been considered to have a learning disability. My brain wasn't formed correctly due to my genetic condition. I had gotten by with my weird photographic memory but I hadn't been able to make connections. I could tell you that two times two was equal to four, but it was because I memorized it, not because I made the connection that you could separate things into two groups of two. It was a strange feeling for me to know that the old me was actually mentally challenged. Old me wouldn't have realized it but new me could see it clearly. It made it easier and easier to think of Kristen Laurence as an old friend who had died, and for me to become Amber.

There had been more searching for my family as time wore on, but I knew I had no one, they had all died in the explosion. I hadn't had the strength of will to look up what had been reported online. I actively avoided news of the outside. I didn't want to confuse myself. They decided that the day I woke up would be my Birthday and that I was twelve years old. I didn't correct them. Any deviation from my story and I couldn't imagine the trouble I would get in. So I just kept my mouth shut. It was easier than actively lying and trying to get my true age listed. April had already turned thirteen last month. The pair of us were healthy enough that we no longer needed to be at Precious Angels. April wasn't in pain and we were both walking, running now. It was time for us to move on.

Kat resisted her bosses as long as she could, struggling to find April and I a placement together. She even tried a DNA test on us to see if she could find family. At time I was shocked to hear I had family nearby. I had assumed everyone from my extended family had died, and those that hadn't didn't know I existed. But it wasn't my family. You see my DNA came up as a match for a missing person named, Clark Kent. He had a sister living in Smallville. I had never heard of him before, so I was completely confused. And you likely are too at this point. Don't worry, we'll get to that. I was his granddaughter. Or so the test showed. Kat was excited. I was confused and April grew morbid. It, kind of dashed our chances at being placed in a foster home or care home together. April was happy for me of course but we had built a new family between us. Like we were sisters. Kat reached out to my "family". She and I looked nothing alike. This didn't surprise me since I know I had no family in Smallville.

My aunt was much older than Kat. She wasn't made, up or dressed particularly stylishly. She was quite plain looking with dark hair and blue eyes. She was wearing a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. She looked like she spent a lot of time outdoors. I wouldn't call her unkind looking at first appearances, but she did look very serious. I was taller than her already. She wasn't a tall woman, but she had some weight to her.

"So, this is my Brother Clark's granddaughter?"

She looked me up and down. Having seen her at livestock auctions I can tell you she was looking at me like she looked at a head of cattle. She had this way about her. Very matter of fact. She looked at Kat and was very serious when she asked her next question.

"Are you feeding these girls here?"

Kat was a bit stunned it seemed but after a few blinks she nodded and said yes.

"Couldn't tell from looking at her, she's skin and bones."

She looked at me again.

"What's your name?"

"I don't really remember, but I picked Amber."

"Sounds kind of fluffy to me. Couldn't pick something sensible like Jane, Mary, or Sarah?"

"It was the first one we came up with, ma'am."

"Well you seem well-mannered enough. You know how to address your elders. You can call me Aunt Edna. If you ever call me Great Aunt Edna I will tan your hide."

"Understood Ma'am."

"I won't be taking you in myself, I'm getting on in years. I'm too old to spend my days chasing after pre-teen girls. My daughter Emma, she'll be looking after you."

She looked at Kat again.

"We'll get the lawyers to start filing paperwork. Is she okay here while it is sorted out?"

"Of course, Ms. Kent."

"You take good care of her."

Edna Kent wasn't an openly emotional type of individual; So, I did not suspect she would respond well to my next request. I don't know why I decided to press my luck. I had to try. She was turning to leave.

"Ma'am, I have a friend, she's like a sister to me, I wouldn't…be ready to leave if it wasn't for her, does your family have a place for her?"

She stopped and turned back to me.

"We Kent's like to support our community, but we can't be taking every stray that knocks on our door, we're just farmers. I'm sorry girl."

I nodded. She wasn't wrong. I know now how much it cost them to take me in now. I was obviously disappointed and worried about what would happen to April. We talked long into the night after Edna's visit.

"I asked if they could take you in, but she said they couldn't. I'm sorry."

April had been crying, I couldn't blame her. I was crying off and on too. I was about to end up with a family that wasn't mine and I knew nothing about. Kat had gone on about how Smallville would be good for me, how a family would be able to support me emotionally. I hadn't really paid attention I was to distraught to hear her words.

"Its okay, I understand. I must be pretty scary for you. You don't remember anything about them, do you?"

"No, I don't know anything about them. I think they're farmers through. At least my Aunt Edna is."

"Was she scary?"

"No, but she wasn't friendly either, you know I'm terrible at reading people."

"Oh boy do I know it. You couldn't tell someone was angry with you if they were punching you in the face."

She laughed, I giggled too, it wasn't far from the truth. We had a fun night just talking about random things. We only had another week together, it was bittersweet. She gave me her email address and asked me to send her an email when I could. She was being placed in a group home in Metropolis, she promised she'd respond, I promised I'd email her. I knew what it was by now, but I couldn't tell you how to do it. I would figure it out though if it meant I could stay connected to April. We got one last hug before I had to go downstairs with my meager donated belongings and one of Kat's old gym bags. Kat was off on the day Edna came to get me and I regretted I never got to say goodbye. She had made the new me, and I couldn't thank her. Edna was in a mood, I wasn't aware it was her normal mood when she had to come to Metropolis.

"Is that it girl?"

She looked at my tiny gym bag, the old Superman t-shirt and jeans with a few faded bloodstains in them that I wore. I nodded.

"Yes, Ma'am."

"Poor thing. That shirt looks like it was pulled out of a dumpster. And those pants, are those blood stains?"

"Yes ma'am, its blood. My friend had an accident and I fell in the blood."

"Lord above. I had no idea things were so dire in Metropolis that they couldn't give an orphan girl a decent set of clothes."

She opened the door to her truck. It was brown and had a roll bar with fog lights on it. Not the truck of a sixty something year old woman. It was old. Probably almost as old as her. I miss that old pick-up truck. I used to drive it every chance I got. There was just something about the rumble of the diesel engine that was satisfying. I tried to pull my seat belt on but it wouldn't budge. Edna gave a chuckle.

"That thing hasn't worked since before I was old enough to drive this thing."

I laughed; It must have sounded nervous.

"No need to be nervous, girl, I'm a good driver. Your cousin is looking forward to meeting you. She keeps asking her mom and dad for a sister."

"Is your daughter really okay with me living there?"

"Of course, she is, you're family."

"I just, don't want to be a burden."

"I'm sure you'll help out around the farm and help earn your keep. Emma is a busy sort. She's a lawyer, so mostly you'll be seeing my son-in-law, Henry. He's a good sort, if a bit soft around the edges. Don't worry you'll fit in."

"I am not sure. I don't really know who I am supposed to be."

"Just be the best person you can be. The rest will follow."

Edna had a way about her, as rough as she was around the edges even with my completely untrained senses, I could tell there was something good about her. I always appreciated that she was completely and unabashedly honest. If you are being an idiot, she'd tell you. She pulled into a long driveway. An old wooden sign hung over the driveway stating, Kent Farm. Edna parked her truck beside a much newer blue one. She pulled herself out and motioned for me to follow. I walked after her. The house was a beautiful yellow and I saw a big red barn, and cows grazing in a field.

"Come on girl, lets get some lunch in us."

She was waving at me from the covered porch. I picked up my pace, carrying my old gym bag slung over my shoulder. She waved me inside, and the most wonderful scent hit my nose. There was another older lady in the kitchen, she was wearing a dress and an apron. Her silver hair was pulled up in a bun. She was the taller of the two. The woman was hovering near a basket full of biscuits. Edna walked up behind her and wrapped her arms around the thinner woman's waist and kissed her on the cheek. She tried to sneak a biscuit and the woman slapped her hand.

"Wash first!"

Enda laughed and washed her hands. The other woman spun around spatula in hand and looked me up and down. She looked very kindly. Lots of laugh lines.

"I thought you were bringing home a girl, not a boy in sack a cloth."

"I'm sure she cleans up nice Heather."

Heather shook her head. And seemed to be waiting for something. I looked between them confused. Heather quirked an eyebrow and looked at Edna, then back at me.

"Well wash up for lunch."

"Yes, ma'am."

She smiled at my response and went back to putting lunch on plates and moving them to the kitchen table. I washed my hands and sat down in the chair Heather pointed at. After five months of hospital food what was already on the table was beautiful to my newly working eyes. She had fried up some potatoes, ham and beans and baked fresh biscuits. Heather pulled off her plaid jacket and hung it up and wash her own hands before sitting down. Heather washed hers as well and sat down between Edna and myself. She started dishing out food. I had paused, I was used to saying grace, both at home and at Precious Angels, it was a Catholic organization. I said grace out of habit and crossed myself and started pulling food out. They looked at each other as I finished. They seemed to have this whole language between them. A look here, a smile there. A frown. I have never seen two people more in tune with each other. We ate in silence for several minutes. To be honest I didn't want to take the time to talk, the food was so good. Like my mothers. I had missed home cooking. Edna laughed.

"See I told you they were starving her at that place."

I felt my cheeks blushing. I hadn't really been eating neatly. I was more stuffing. I was starving. I was always starving. My body seemed to constantly need food. Kat said it was just because I was a growing girl and needed it. April never ate as much as I did, and unlike me she didn't care about the fact it was terrible food. I finished my mouthful.

"I'm sorry ma'am."

Heather smiled; Her smile was so kindly. I felt so much love in this house. It was hard to not smile as well.

"Don't be sorry Amber, eat up, it is what its there for. Growing girls need lots of food."

"They didn't starve us, at Precious Angels, the food, well it just wasn't very good. I mean it was food, but I mean, its not like this. And I appreciated what they gave us, I know they are a charity."

Heather wiped her hands on her apron and picked up another biscuit, she took a bite and after she swallowed it she looked at me, with those kindly green eyes of hers.

"Its good you appreciate the fact they did they best they could for you. Takes a mature child to realize that its not all about them."

By the time lunch was done I was stuffed so full I thought I would burst. Not only did she make fresh biscuits she had baked an apple pie. I can honestly say I had never had apple pie until that day, and it made a quick trip to the top of my list. As I was eating my second piece Heather was chatting with Edna.

"Pie is the last of the apples from last years harvest. You think the orchid is going to do well this year?"

"Looks like it's a good season for apples."

I blushed a bit and started to slow down on the pie and Heather seemed to pick up on my embarrassment.

"You keep eating dear. I was just letting Edna know she might have to pick some up when she's in Metropolis next time."

I nodded, but still ate the pie more slowly. I finished and stood up and started putting my dishes together and moving them to the sink. It was habit. At Precious Angels we were expected to clean up our dishes. I stood there trying to figure out where to put them, they had a dirty dishes tray at the hospice, but here, I was at a loss. Heather noticed and pointed out the dishwasher. I put my dishes down and spent a few minutes trying to figure out how to open it. Embarrassing when I think of it now. Heather somehow appeared next to me and showed me how to open it. I felt my cheeks burn and she just gave me her usual kindly smile and showed me how to load it. I went back and got the rest of the dishes and loaded it. Heather started putting the food away and Edna had vanished somewhere. I looked around and Heather touched my arm and pointed out to the barn.

"She's in the barn probably trying to get that beast of an old tractor going. We're going to start planting next week."

I looked back at the table, it still had a few dishes on it, but Heather shook her head and motioned that I could leave.

"Go on, I can tell you want to go see the barn. Tell Edna the children are getting here at six and I want her showered and dressed presentably before they get here. Won't you dear?"

"Yes ma'am."

I was very curious about the barn. I knew they existed, but I'd never been inside one. Well I had when we did this petting zoo thing at my old school back when I was blind and wheelchair bound. I ran across the wide driveway to the barn. I still loved to run at that point. It was a new feeling to be free, wind on my face. When I got to the big doors I saw Edna on her back with a tool and could see a black fluid coming out of the bottom of the tractor. She noticed me hovering at the door and I could hear her laughing.

"You can come in, its just a barn."

I walked inside. I was almost tip-toeing afraid I'd break something. Bales of hay were stacked along one side. I could see a few horse pens, empty, probably because they were in the fields. In a back corner I saw something covered in a tarp. I peaked under the corner of it. It was saw a dusty fender. It was black, the paint under the dust still shined. It was up on blocks. I wasn't sure about cars. Based on the ones I would see driving around outside my window at the hospice I'd have to say this one was old.

"That old thing, used to belong to Dad. Put it up on blocks after he died. Always meant to get it back on the road. Engines got some issues."

I pulled the tarp back further encouraged that she hadn't gotten mad at my snooping. It was beautiful. I would soon get to know it much better. But that's later in the story. I replaced the tarp and walked up the stairs to the hay loft and found a cozy looking couch and a dusty old telescope. The place looked like it was once well used but had been left to collect dust. It was private and quiet. I could love a little nook like this for solitude. I heard the stairs complain as Edna walked up them. She was wiping her hands off with a rag. She looked around and hrmphed.

"Your grandfather used to spend all his time here. He said he was studying but I think he was spying on his crush. If you open that door and point the telescope down you'll be able to see your new house. Its just across the road."

I couldn't help myself, and I did just as she said. It was cute white house. It looked like it used to be a farm house. It was fairly large. I could see a dog running around in the backyard barking. A man was throwing a ball it and it would chase after it.

"Go into the house and ask Heather for some work clothes. I could use some help on the tractor."

"I don't know anything about tractors."

"You got two eyes, and a brain don't ya? That means you can learn. Hurry up, want to get her done before the kids get here."

"Yes ma'am."

Heather didn't take long to find me some clothes. We didn't bother with different pants my jeans were already pretty much ruined with the blood stains but she found one of my apparent grandfather's old shirts and sent me out to help. I lost track of time as Edna and I laid there under that tractor. She would point out parts and tell me what they did and ask me for tools and patiently help when I had no clue what she was talking about. She knew so much about engines, and she seemed eager to share. By the end of the afternoon I had changed two spark plugs on my own, under her watchful gaze of course. Edna and I both hit our heads on the bottom of the tractor when we heard Heather call out to us. We glanced at each other and laughed. Heather didn't seem amused at our laughter.

"You two covered in grease and the kids will be here in hour. Hopeless. You wash off before you go dirtying up my white doors."

She shook her head and walked back to the farmhouse. Edna led me to a sink in another smaller barn and we used shampoo of all things to wash off the grease. While we washed our hands, she looked at me and smiled.

"I'm glad you're not afraid to get your hands dirty. Most girls your age would take one look at that engine and run the other way."

"I guess I don't remember I'm supposed to hate getting dirty."

Edna laughed and pounded me on the back.

"You'll fit in just fine around here, Amber. Just fine. Hurry up and get inside and get a shower and changed before Heather puts out in the barn for supper."

The bathroom was old, but I could immediately tell the difference. It was homey, not like the institutional ones at the hospice. The hot water took a while to kick in. I didn't wash my hair. I had noticed it would take forever to dry with it so long. Kat had refused to let me cut it shorter. She said I looked good with the longer hair. I put on my nice clothes, at this point it was a white blouse and non-blood-stained jeans. I pulled my hair back into a ponytail and made sure I didn't look like a street urchin. I found myself very nervous for the upcoming family dinner. I was about to meet my new family, I did not know what to expect. My mind drifted back to April and where she was at that moment. There was a knock at the door. I looked at myself one last time and picked up my bag of meager belongings and opened the door.

"Sorry ma'am."

Edna looked surprised when I opened the door.

"I was just about to give you a fifteen-minute warning."

"Sorry I took so long ma'am."

"You were quick. See you at dinner."

I walked to the kitchen after putting my bag beside the door. Heather was peeling potatoes. I watched her for a few minutes before speaking she was listening to a radio show and when I heard a commercial come on I interrupted.

"Ma'am, may I help?"

"Of course. Grab a peeler and dive in."

I found a peeler, I assumed it was one because it was identical to the thing Heather was using and I started trying to peel my first potato. Even I found my pathetic attempts funny until I ended up running the peeler along my finger. Heather gasped and reached for a cloth. But when she went to wrap my finger there was no cut. She threw the peeler in the garbage.

"No wonder you're having so much trouble, old thing was so dull you couldn't peel a potato if you tried."

I shrugged taking that at face value and she pulled out a third peeler and handed it to me. She then showed me how to do it properly and safely and watched me peel my first too. Satisfied she started on her own pile.

"How did the tractor go?"

"It starts now. We were just cleaning the engine off."

"Good, good. I don't think I've seen Edna smile so much when she was working on it before. I keep telling her to replace it, its older than her."

"I think it has character."

Heather laughed.

"You might be a Kent after all. Sounds like something one of them would say."

"I just mean, just because something is old doesn't mean you should throw it away."

"You might not have any memory, but someone taught you right from wrong Amber. I can tell."

I remembered my mother and all her small wise sayings. She did teach me right from wrong, in her own way. She never lectured me, she lived a good life and I learned from her words to others. My parents were not rich as I've already said, and being poor meant they had to just make things work. My father was always fixing something or other in the apartment. I pushed away a couple of tears that had started to fall with my knuckle and continued to peel in silence.

"Okay that's enough potatoes, now do you now how to cut one properly?"

"I don't know."

"Well your peeler episode tells me we need to teach you how to use a knife safely. So here take this potato, put your fingers here, no, not there, here. Now make sure the knife's sharp edge is never towards your finger. There. Good, now cut again. Great. The secret is control. If you push too hard the potato will slip out and you'll lose control and then you will cut yourself. Don't try to force it."

She walked me through it very patiently I know I was costing her more time then I was saving, and she knew it too, but she just smiled and patiently helped me learn.

"Good job. We'll make a cook out of you yet Amber. Could you wash your hands and set the table please?"

"Yes ma'am."

She shook her head and put the potatoes in the water and turned on the gas to the stove top burner. Setting a table was something I could do. I had helped at Precious Angels once I could walk on my own. April said it was sad how much enjoyment I took in the task. She didn't understand that to me it was a joy, being able to walk, and use my hands, and just help others instead of being helped. Edna came down the stairs. She was wearing a dress shirt and a clean pair of jeans. Heather looked at her and shook her head. Edna looked down at herself.

"What?"

"Jeans? Really? That's your idea of dressing up now?"

"They're my nicest pair. Its not like its Easter."

"So, I get you in a dress one time a year now? We're bringing someone new into the family and you can't even wear a dress? You know how much Emma likes seeing you dressed properly for dinner."

Edna made her usual hrumph sound and smoothed out her dress shirt. Heather shook her head and went back to mashing the potatoes. She seemed more anxious then I would have expected. I think that's why I was drawn to Heather. I could read her very easily. It brought a level of comfort I hadn't had since I woke up from my coma. Edna sat down in a reclining chair in the living room and put on a pair of reading glasses and started scrolling through a tablet. I finished setting the dining room table. Heather had already expanded it and set up chairs. I went back into the kitchen.

"I'm done setting the table ma'am, anything else I can help with?"

"Put some butter in a butter dish, make sure we have salt and pepper on the table and put the pickled beets out."

The whole request was challenging for me at the time, I had no idea what a butter dish looked like. I turned to her and was very embarrassed to ask.

"I'm sorry ma'am, I don't know what pickled beets are or what butter is, or what a butter dish looked like."

Heather had seemed so flustered and anxious I thought for sure she was going to lose patience with me, but she didn't. She smiled and wrapped her arm around my shoulders. I probably looked like I was going to cry, I felt like I was going to. I just wanted to help and I couldn't even do simple things.

"Its okay. Amber. I understand. Come here and just do this with the masher. Just like that."

I followed her instructions to the letter and she gathered a few things. They were clear, I assume they were crystal. She took over mashing and mixed in some of what she indicated was butter and poured some milk in. While she mashed the potatoes with her right hand she pointed out the various items naming them for me. I put the butter out, and the pickled beets.

"Be careful with the beet juice it stains."

I nodded and spread my newly completed plates around the table. As I was working the door opened and I saw a woman walk in. She was tall. Statuesque I think a writer would describe her as. I could tell instantly she was related to Edna. She was dressed in a blouse and a grey pencil skirt. Behind her the man I had seen playing with a dog came in. He was wearing a suit, with a red tie. Carrying a girl who had her arms wrapped around his neck. She was wearing the cutest pink dress. Her eyes went wide when she saw me and she squirmed to get down. He put her down and she rushed over and glomped onto my waist.

"You're my new sister!"

I nodded and patted her on her head. She couldn't have been more then four. The woman, who I assumed at the time was Emma looked tired. Heather noticed they had come in. She rushed out of the kitchen to give them both tight hugs. She also scooped up the little girl and kissed her on the cheeks. The girl cried out.

"Grandma I'm getting a new sister!"

Heather smiled at her and nodded and put her down. She gave Emma a look up and down and put her hands on her hips.

"Really, you show up to a special family dinner like that?"

"I'm sorry mom, I was at the office late."

"I know where you get it from."

Heather waved her hand dismissively towards Edna who had put her tablet down and was walking into the kitchen. She scooped up the little girl and gave her a bear hug.

"Look at you. I think you've grown an inch since I saw you last."

The little girl giggled and wrapped her arms around Edna's neck. The man who I assumed was Henry looked a bit uncomfortable tugged on his collar. He gave me a small smile and wave. I think I scared him somehow.

"You're getting on my case for being dressed in a skirt and Mom's wearing jeans?"

Emma rolled her eyes and pulled off her shoes.

"I told you both it was a dress up dinner, your daughter and husband can listen, why can't you?"

Emma rolled her eyes. And went to pull plates out of a cupboard and as she turned with a few she noticed the table was already set.

"Oh don't worry about that Emma, Amber got everything taken care of you can go relax I know you had a long day."

Emma nodded and went into the living room and put her feet up. Henry shooed the little girl into the living room, Edna followed. I stood there where I was beside the table not sure what to do. Heather looked at me and smiled.

"Go ahead sit down and relax dear. I got the rest."

I nodded. I honestly would have rather helped in the kitchen. I had no idea what to say or do. The people in that room were going to be my new parents, and my new sister. I resigned myself to it and walked in and sat down. The girl was on my lap before I realized what was happening. She looked up at me.

"I'm Sarah. And I know your name is Amber."

I smiled despite my nervousness. I had come to understand young children made great ice breakers. They don't care about social awkwardness; They just go to it.

"Hi Sarah."

"You have pretty hair and eyes."

"I do?"

"Yes! I have blonde hair too!"

She flicked her curls. I couldn't help but smile again. The kid was adorable. If only she'd stayed that way, but we all grow up. She crawled off and started digging under the tv and pulled out a box of toys and started playing with them. Henry kept making shy glances at me. I came to understand, he was just as socially awkward as I was. Emma was almost dozing. Edna was reading her tablet again making quiet complaints about the damn republicans. I didn't have any comprehension of politics at the time so I had no idea what she was complaining about. Feeling completely out of my depth I decided to do the only sane thing I could think of I got on the floor and crossed my legs and played with the toys, Sarah told me all about the little story she was weaving and I listened and played along. Kids I can handle. The door opened again and a six-foot-tall man walked in. He was African American and he was dressed in a very nice suit. He leaned down and hugged and kissed Heather on the forehead.

"Hey mom."

"Dean. You made it!"

"Yes sorry, I got stuck at a work meeting. I see Emma's already passed out."

Sarah had jumped up and ran towards Dean and hugged his leg. He scooped her up and gave her a hug and kissed her forehead.

"Hey Princess."

"Uncle Dean, my new big sister got here!"

"I can see that, why don't you introduce me Sarah."

He put her down and she grabbed his hand and tugged him along with her. I stood up and dusted myself off. Sarah looked up at me and then to Dean.

"Uncle Dean this is my sister Amber, and Amber, this is our Uncle Dean."

He offered his hand, and I took it shaking it.

"Nice to meet you, sir."

"What lies did our mothers fill your head with to make you think you need to call me sir?"

I blushed. I couldn't help it. I had no idea how to respond so I ended stammering something incoherent out. He laughed.

"I'm teasing you Amber, sorry."

Heather had taken her apron off and swatted him with it.

"Wash your hands and put the potatoes on the table you big brat."

"Yes mom."

He dutifully followed her instructions smiling the whole time.

"That goes for the rest of you, wash up."

Emma was still dozing and woke with a start when Heather's apron was thrown at her face. She pulled it off and glared at her mother and went to wash her hands. Sarah demanded I sit beside her, I didn't argue. Dean led the table in saying grace. The food was so good I barely paid attention to the conversation at the table. I helped Sarah cut her meat. I came to realize she could out talk everyone I had ever met. I didn't mind though, meant I had to say less. I was more or less left to talk with Sarah as the rest talked about their days and Dean and Heather tried to convince Edna to replace the old tractor. I felt surrounded by love that night. It almost felt like I was back home with my parents. It was a little easier to let go of Kristen and become Amber. Especially with Sarah treating me like I had been her sister forever.

When it came time to clean up the table I helped again. This time I didn't even ask. Heather tried to tell me to stop and I shook my head.

"Ma'am, why don't you go relax, I can do this for you."

"You really are a blessing to us, you know that."

"No more then you are to me. Ma'am."

She smiled at me. I could tell I was already accepted by her as part of the family. I felt that way about everyone there that night. I was part of the family and that was that. No more was said about it after that first day. I felt guilty that a lie had brought us together. I had no idea how I could possibly be related to Clark Kent. But DNA doesn't lie. When I finished cleaning off the table and putting the food away I leaned on a wooden pillar by the living room. They were involved in a deep discussion on whether the town cinema should be re-opened. Emma and Dean thought it was a stupid idea, since Metropolis was only half an hour drive away. Their mothers were in complete opposition. Sarah was playing away and all I could think was, how lucky I was to have been found by them. Eventually Sarah started tugging on her father's hand.

"Daddy, I'm bored!"

He rubbed her head and glanced at Emma who didn't look like she was ready to leave anytime soon. I walked up to Sarah and offered my hand.

"Sarah, I know about a secret room where we can look at the stars from. Wanna come?"

I looked at Henry and he nodded. Sarah started to bounce and I led her to the barn and up into the loft. I pushed open the doors and dusted off the telescope and pointed it at the moon. I moved an old wooden box over and helped her up on top of it so she could look.

"Wow there's holes on it!"

"Those are craters. Asteroids smashed into it and made them."

I made exploding sounds and she was super excited. She got bored with the moon and we looked at a few stars and together we discovered one of them was Jupiter. The telescope was a very strong one. I hadn't expected it to work so well. She got tired of that and started bouncing on the old dusty couch. While I looked for another planet. It was only a few minutes before I heard the sounds of soft, rhythmic breathing. I glanced over and Sarah was passed out. I gave her another half an hour and scooped her up she wrapped her arms around my neck and she whispered.

"I love you Amber."

With those words I knew I had found home. I had to fight back tears. I knew it was just the mutterings of a young kid, but she had me wrapped around her little fingers. I carried her into the house and was met by a bunch of smiles. Heather showed me to the spare room and I laid Sarah down on the bed and sat there for a few minutes before going back down stairs. They were all drinking tea and Heather offered to make me a cup, which I accepted. I sat down on the couch beside Heather. She leaned in and spoke to me quietly.

"She must really like you, she never goes to sleep for her baby sitters."

"I think she was just tired from all the excitement."

Heather smiled and nodded. Emma finished her conversation with Dean and looked at me.

"Amber, I have to apologize. Henry didn't finish setting up your room yet. He promises he'll get it done for tomorrow night, do you mind staying here?"

"No ma'am."

"You don't have to call me ma'am. We're all family here. Call me Emma."

I nodded. Heather finished her cup of tea. And looked at the stairs.

"You know Sarah's dead asleep, why don't you just let her stay here tonight. If she's too much to handle while you and Henry get the house ready, Amber can run her around."

I nodded. Emma looked at Henry who shrugged.

"Guess it is settled then. Might be nice to have a quiet night alone."

"My thoughts exactly, you and Henry haven't had much time to yourselves with your new job and Sarah."

"Thanks mom."

"Always hon."

I noticed that Enda was no where to be seen. I assumed she went to bed so she could get an early start. I did not know much about farms, but I knew farmers had to be up early. I helped Heather load the rest of the dishes into the washer and made my way to bed. I slept better that night then I had in a long time.