Isolate in Spring: Science Fiction

Isolate, she moved among them, yet not one of them. Thick plastic gloves separated her from all she touched, and she saw the bright colors of spring through the warped plastic shield of her helmet. Her parents were still brave enough to keep her living at home, and even to hug her on special occasions, with a carefully inspected security shield between them. At her birth, they could have chosen to abandon her to live forever in an institution with the other unfortunates. They had not, and she would forever love them for their attempt to give her a somewhat normal life, as if one of her kind could ever truly have a real life. Still, even if she was only invited to two balls, and even if she could do nothing--

Inspiration: "Isolate" by Paradise Lost
Story Potential: High. Really high, particularly in conjunction with the other one I wrote recently about a person naturally immune from the plague and therefor sentences to body-carrying duty during a plague. Or maybe better not associated with it.
Notes: Plague, contagion--genetically activated or an unfortunate infection? A disease that is everywhere, but can only cross to humans through a vector human that lacks the initial resistance? And sort of a Southern Gothic sci-fi atmosphere...belle of the ball, hanging Spanish moss, perpetual damp, damsels fair, gentlemen gallant, and a creepy layer of some sort of cruelty beneath it all? Hmm. Perhaps the last goes too far.