The morning continued slowly. Regina was slowly waking but always tried to keep to her bed as long as possible. She had a day job at the hotel as a waitress to help pay for what her night work couldn't, but always said it was no fun. Ol' Maurice worked some place where men did physical labor. That was all the Belle knew. Yet she knew Ol' Maurice also went to the bar afterward to get drunk. Regina was always screamed at him for blowing money on alcohol but then he yelled back at her for whoring herself out to God-knows whom.

Belle made sure to stay extra quiet when they were fighting. There were a few time where she had spoken up, unable to handle the loud sounds of their voices, but all she got in return was a slap in the face or yelled at herself. Ol' Maurice tried a few times to tell Regina she had no right to treat Belle so awful but Regina always said "She's my kid and I can do to her as I please". It always made Belle feel sick.

Regina finally sat up on her bed and yawned. Her dark hair, that had once been lush and shiny, was now dull and matted or thrown in a messy bun. Belle remembered very little of what Regina looked like before she went blind. Now she only saw her as dark colors: black and red. Ol' Maurice was more of a grey; sometimes a dull yellow. When he wasn't drunk, he could be a warm man who she knew love her.

Belle always wondered what color people saw her as. Did they see her as black as Regina or as dull as Ol' Maurice? She had never had been around many people in her life on a count of saving Regina from embarrassment. She was hid from the world as the world was hid from her.

Her ideal way to be view would be blue. It was light and friendly. It wasn't judgmental or close minded. She would be loved and treated kindly. Thats the kind life Belle dreamed of but knew she would never have. But she could dream.

Regina finally rose out of bed. Belle could hear the mattress creaking and Regina's bones cracking. " You make my breakfast yet Belle?", she called out in a raspy voice.

"Not yet."

"Not yet, what?"

"Not yet, Regina."

"That's more like it. Got to make sure you remember your manners missy. I won't be having no sass in my home. You hear me?"

"Yes Regina."

Belle rushed to the kitchen to make Regina her breakfast. She didn't want to get another slap in the face for not being fast enough. She felt her way around for the dishes she kept clean on the counter. It was easier then putting them it the cabinet where they could fall if she didn't grab them right.

She went to the refrigerator and grabbed some butter, a few eggs, and the orange juice. She knew it was orange juice because she would always dip her finger in what she she couldn't tell easily. She never did it when Regina was looking. She also grabbed the bread from the box meant for it.

Making toast and eggs was one of the best things Belle could cook. The other was grilled cheese. Regina sometimes got frustrated that she couldn't cook more but then she would just eat out with her night crowd most of the time anyway. The sizzling sound of the eggs frying in butter and the smell of home-cooked food allowed Belle to dream of a better life. One where these senses actually felt like a home.

Belle plated and serve breakfast, being extremely careful to put the plates far enough on the table. She could hear the scraping of a chair being pulled out. And she could hear Ol' Maurice getting up and running the bath sink water for his shave. The day was beginning and it was a pick up day for her beads. Granny was real nice about giving her work. Belle had a feeling Granny paid her more than the work was worth but never complained.

"Regina?", Belle asked timidly.

"Yeah, what'd you want?"

"Well...uh...". Belle shifted from foot to foot. She was so nervous.

"Spit it out girl. I don't have all day."

" Granny comes today and I thought.."

"You thinking is going to cause you nothing but trouble."

" Could Granny take me to the park today?"

"What...?"
" Could Granny take me to the park? Please? I'll get my work done still. Quick as ever. Even quicker. And if I don't I won't ask again and I won't eat dinner tonight? Please Regina?"

"And whose gonna do all the chores?"

" I'll do them before I leave."

" And how are you going to get home?"

"Ol' Maurice can pick me up."

"I'm what?", Ol' Maurice shouted from his bed.

"Nothing, old drunk", Regina shouted back.

"Please Regina?!", Belle pleaded as though it was her one chance at life.

" And whose gonna make my supper when I get home?"

" I'll have it done before you get here."

" Listen, Belle. You got a good life in this little apartment. You have safety here and got work to do. You have less worries than the rest of us do in this life and your work is pretty simple. Be a good girl and stay here where you can be blind and be happy."

Belle found it funny that Regina thought her happy here but she couldn't complain about her having it easy. She know she could have it way worse. Regina could have rejected her for being blind and not being able to get a real job.