Imperfection
"I'd love to dance... but my feet just can't."
Glancing at the lower portion of my body, I lifted the red chiffon fabric, revealing the two prosthetics. Cold and metallic, the robotic components held together as my makeshift legs. They were stiff machines operated by one owner. They were crowd turners and the topic of much idle talk. But hey, they worked. These foreign parts were my strength and gave me the ability to keep moving forward. Without these, I could not keep going further on.
After my accident, the doctors dubbed it a miracle that I survived. The deadly car crash left me having to amputate above the knee for both legs. The other driver did not watch the intersection lights of a 4-way intersection and drove on a red light. Their car collided into the driver side of my car and the driver was left unscathed.
I soon woke up devastated of the outcome. I lost the feeling of my legs and ultimately lost the feeling of freedom. Life at the instant seemed so dark. I felt worthless. The nurses moved me around using a wheelchair, limiting the sought movement I previously was capable of. I was subjected to humiliating circumstances such as being unable to go to the bathroom or bathe without the help of others. The doctors soon suggested I try prosthetic legs.
As soon as my eyes met that silver apparatus, I knew that they were my only chance of finally feeling free again. Perhaps it was a little different, perhaps it was circumstantial, but I finally was able to find myself again.
I was still me and that's all that mattered.
But my dignity could not help to be shaken. People could be cruel. People could be mean, harsh, and inhumane. But I had long gotten over the feeling of scrutiny and examination from others.
I admit I am different, but I don't care if others cannot accept who I am. The most important is that I myself accept who I am.
But the way that those eyes looked at me, I could not help but feel ashamed at my appearance.
Embarrassed and red cheeked, I looked away and waited for the response.
"That's okay. I understand how you feel but... imperfection is what makes us all unique."
I looked up in surprise. "Really?" I replied.
"Yeah. So... would you like to dance?" As a kind smile and a prosthetic hand reached out to me.