Floating words
Crosseyed-Cupcake asked for a oneshot of Snow finding out Emma has dyslexia and Emma being ashamed. While I have the floor just remember with all the conditions under the specific learning difficulty bracket (dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADHD you get the picture) there's more too it than their main symptom(s)!
Snow had been suspecting this for a while. There were just little clues here or there. The way Emma got so irritated by background noises when she was trying to focus. Or the way she over-reacted to little mistakes she made at the station. Emma claimed it was because errors could lead to lost lives but Snow that wasn't it. The way she never forgot a single place she went. It accounted for her extra short fuse too. She'd seen it enough times as a teacher to know. Of course the most obvious clues were in her literacy skills. She refused to read things allowed at any town meetings. She claimed it was stage fright but, again, Snow suspected otherwise. She always used the same font. If someone printed something using a different one Snow could see Emma struggling. She was good at hiding it alright- but Snow was ninety nine percent positive Emma was dyslexic. Emma was having to read a large report for the station. She was tackling it by doing a section each night. Snow noticed right from the first day that she was having difficulty with it. While Charming and Emma were at the station, Snow popped in with Neal to "visit the school". Her real aim was to pick up a special sheet of transparent green laminate that Snow thought might help Emma. Later that evening when Emma pulled out the report and it was just the pair of them in the room, Snow placed the laminate on top of the page.
"Here." She whispered. "I think that might help." Emma gasped. She knew. Emma looked up completely mortified. She had one of these sheets herself upstairs, but she refused to bring it out when other people were around. "Remember, I was a teacher. I know the signs. Although you are exceptionally good at hiding it." Snow assured her, knowing Emma would be worried everyone could notice.
"I don't want people to know." Emma said firmly. "They'll think I'm stupid because I can't read properly."
"Hey," Snow said, bending down so she was eye level with Emma. "You're not stupid. Anyone calls you that you send them my way. They'll be the stupid ones once I've bashed their teeth in." Snow told her. Emma gave a small, weak smile.
"The words just don't sit still on the page." She said quietly. "The more I try to chase them, the faster they move...I have my own green sheet upstairs. It helps a lot...I just don't like people seeing. Makes me feel different."
"I understand. But you don't have to worry here. This is your home. We will never think you're stupid. I only noticed at all because, like I said, I know the signs to look out for. I'll only tell your father with your permission but I think it's best if he knows. It means you can feel comfortable using your green sheet in the station. You won't get headaches or strain your eyes. He can help get rid of the background noises and what not." Without looking up, Emma gave a small nod. Snow squeezed her daughter's hand. "Alright honey. I'll let you get on with your reading."
Snow left the room and found David with Neal in their bedroom. She had a discreet conversation with him there about Emma's dyslexia and things that she thought might be helpful at the station, as well as suggesting he ask Emma what helped her. It made a big difference in helping Emma at home and at work. She felt more confident in herself, not like she was trying to hide away. Her work was getting done at a faster pace and with less mistakes. She was glad her mom spotted it. It was like a weight off her shoulders.