Really? Date & Time: 28 October 2002 | Evening Post Type: Introspection Status: Closed: Complete Character(s): Millicent Bulstrode, Millicent Bletchley (NPC), Regina Bulstrode (NPC) Location: Home, Hogsmeade Summary: Is it a blessing or a curse?
"MIllie?" Regina's voice, normally quite steady, was quiet, unsteady. She was sitting on the loveseat in the liviing room, window opened for a slight breeze of quiet air, most folks at dinner or their evening's entertainment. Millie had been reading some journals she'd taken from the hospital library, both to catch up on her studies that were intrinsict to her work, but also as something to do. Normally she delighted in making dinner, but now..
"What is it, Mum?" She turned to face her mother, and met her eyes. A simple thing, to be sure, but complicated by the fact that Regina couldn't and hadn't knowingly made eye contact with anyone in years. Her eyes, a very pale blue, were focused on Millie, and she felt a chill unrelated to her own illness down her back.
"I.... your hair. It's darker than I thought...." Regina said, thoughtfully, reaching over to Millie unerringly and placing a finger on her lips. Your father has lips like that. Its one of the few things I remember, his face." She smiled gently at Millie.
"Mum, what are you talking about?" Millie was confused and not a bit concerned. Her Gran came in, her bag of knitting set down before an armchair. "Gran, is Mum alright?"
Her grandmother looked at her, then at Regina, and Millie noted with detachment that they made eye contact as well. "I thought you weren't going to tell her." The two women looked at Millie and she felt her stomach bottom out. Gran sighed, then moved to the other side of Millie on the loveseat.
"We didn't want to worry you." She started, but broke off. "Your mother, her vision.... It's been coming back. It's still a bit patchy, but it might come back all the way."
Millie stared at Gran. "What do you mean she can see? THe accident took her vision, years ago. It's not going to spontaneously just start working."
"But that's what happened." Regina said, strength implacable even in the face of Millie's denial. "I don't know how or why, but its starting to work again. Millie, look at me." She reached out and unerringly took her daughter's chin. "And I can look at my baby girl's face with my own eyes."
MIllie felt herself tear up, and quickly wiped her eyes, and stood, moving away from the two women sandwiching her. "But.... it was permenant. Why...." She broke off. It should have made her happy, to have her mum be able to see. It had been the driving force of so many years of her life and yet.....
"That's gratitude for you." Gran muttered. taking out her knitting and soon the sound of clacking needles filled the room as Gran spelled several sets to work. Millie thought it rather insensitive of her, since MIllie couldn't do any sort of magic without retching, but that was Gran for you.
"I'd be more grateful if I knew for sure it was coming back, not a fluke, and why it was doing so." Millie said, pacing a bit. "I can't just accept it as is, Mum. I don't want you to get hurt if it doesn't stay this way." She looked at her mum. "I need to do some tests."
"Oh, no you don't. Regina stood, and walked to Millie. "I won't have you hurting yourself over me."
Millie shook off her mum's hands. "Fine. Then I'm going to the hospital." She'd pick up another extra shift and see if there was any research she'd missed besides what she brought home. She grabbed the journals, hands shaking a bit, and left, Regina staring after her, eyes filling with tears.
"Let her be." Gran advised. "The truth will only make her more upset."