"I'm afraid she might become blind", the doctor explained sadly.
  Wiping away a tear, her knees gave way and she crumbled to a corner. This couldn't be happening. It was too early for her child to become blind.
  "No, that's not true. A fall could not take away her sight."
  "I'm afraid so, Ms. Radcliffe."
  She looked up and glared at him. Nervously, he averted his gaze away from her. She was one of those very protective mothers and would do anything to make her child raised as best as possible. Sighing, she rose and stood.
  "Show me where my child is." The doctor nodded and escorted her to the small room. Inside, there was a small cot with a tiny girl sleeping. Carefully, Ms. Radcliffe tip-toed towards her daughter and sat on the cot. Slowly, she lifted her daughter's head and cradled her head in her arms.
  "My baby, what has happened to you?"
  The doctor watched soberly as Ms. Radcliffe began to softly hum a lullaby. She was a poor woman left with her only daughter. Her husband had abandoned them two years ago and she was forced to work two jobs to afford the money she needed to survive.
  The blind child could hear her mother's voice soothing her but to her confusion, she could not see her. Maybe I'm dreaming. She struggled to open her eyes and as she did, she could still not see her mother. In panic, she turned her head to the sound of her mother's voice but could not find her mother's beautiful face.
  "Mother, where are you?" she whispered.
  "I'm here, daughter", her mother answered.
  "But I can not see you. Am I dreaming?"
  "No, you are not. The doctor said you fell from the stairs in the apartment and the piece of wooding on the bottom floor caused your sight to be taken from you."
  Angeline shook her head. No, it couldn't have happened. She didn't see a piece of wood. No, she must be merely dreaming.
  "Mother, I didn't see any piece of wood. You were with me. Did you see any piece of wood?"
  Ms. Radcliffe paused as she tried to recollect the horrible scene. She remembered her little Angeline wanting to go ice skating. Both of them took their old pairs of ice skates and excitedly rushed down the stairs of their small apartment. Suddenly, Angeline tripped and fell to the bottom floor. She landed on the floor and was motionless for some time. Ms. Radcliffe desperately called help from everyone around her. But there was something she saw before her daughter fell. Yes, it was a piece of wood. She shook her head as more tears flowed out. This was her fault, entirely her fault. If she wasn't so careless, her daughter would still be her perfect angel.
  "No, I didn't Angeline", she lied.
  "Mother, I really must be dreaming for my eyes seem to be closed."
  "No, you are not dreaming. What I am saying is true. You are blind."
  Just as her mother said that, Angeline shuddered. She couldn't possibly be blind. Shaking her head, she said, "But Mother, how is it that I am blind? I just fell from the stairs."
  "I'm sorry my dear Angeline but once you landed on the floor, the piece of wood was caught in your eyes. The doctor had trouble getting the splinters out."
  Suddenly, Angeline remembered the touch of terrible pain when she landed. Most of it was in her eyes. That was what must have happened. Instinctively, she held her hands out. She felt the warm embrace her mother gave her and at once felt soothed. This was a loving mother. Her mother.
  "Mother, what am I to do now? How can I walk without bumping into objects?"
  "You will learn. Eventually, you will be able to do almost anything as any other person can. We both will learn how to adapt to this life. My little Angeline, don't give up hope. There is plenty of hope left."
  Angeline smiled and drifted off to sleep. Ms. Radcliffe stood up and looked down at her daughter. She was so small and fragile. Approaching the doctor, she glanced at him wearily.
  "Are you ready?" he asked.
  "Yes."