Exit Wounds

Lose your clothes and show your scars:

It's who you are

They mark a battle

I have a lot of scars and stitches on my body.

When I was born I had a blood transfusion.

There is a scar on my armpit.

At four, I was being naughty and jumped on the couch. I fell off the couch onto a glass of water. My head split open and the glass shattered to pieces into my head.

That gave me a scar on my forehead.

Later, when I was ten, I had gallstones and had to have my gallbladder removed.

There are 5 little scars all over my stomach.

Finally when I was 18 came the worst.

My friend was driving us home from musical practice. As I was talking to her, she hit a truck. The airbag deployed and got the right side of my face.

It took out my eye lens.

It exploded my pupil.

It tore up my iris.

It gave me glaucoma.

It changed me forever.

I have stitches in my eye.

I would give anything ANYTHING to have a normal right eye again.

Most people say it's not noticeable but if you look closely my eye resembles the eye of a cat.

The saying you don't know what you've got until it is gone is so painfully true.

Today my mother asked if I wanted to accompany her to a dance recital.

This isn't just a dance recital. It would be the dance recital of the dance studio I attended.

My mother understood why I didn't want to go, but I still felt guilty for not going with her. My father protested and asked why I didn't want to watch.

It's the same every year.

Watching dance recitals..(especially when it's from your own studio) Make me a little sad.

I am very happy and excited for all the dancers today.

I hope they know how lucky they are.

My eye injury made me not able to finish ballet.

I could If I wanted to, but losing vision changes you more than what meets the eye.

Losing vision changes your balance.

It affects your ability to turn.

To dance in general.

Most of all when it comes to performing on stage, having a screwed up eye that has trouble reacting to light makes it the hardest.

The stage lights are blinding.

You can't see where to go when the lights go out.

My parents can't seem to understand any of that.

No one can.

Just because I don't want to go watch a dance recital does not make me selfish.

It does not make me weak.

It makes me human.

Every stitch on my body tells a story.

Every scar is a victory.

and every memory is only a reminder that I am still alive.

That's the best part of it all.

In the end, I'm just happy I had the pleasure of learning to dance.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Z-gjCpazNg

Reviews

[dan]

Kathryn, Your litany of injuries in the beginning becomes moot when the eye injury occurs. The matter-of-fact way you tell the story is both compelling and chilling. The fact that your parents don't understand is them just wanting you to feel normalcy, they can't possibly share your perspective. I'm not saying 'forgive them,' but just try to empathize with the pain that THEY are going through WITH YOU. When parents have children, especially if they have a gift, a bright talent, the parents live a little vicariously through you. I'm not daring to suggest that their loss was equal to yours, but it WAS substantial. You are very courageous for having written and shared this. I hope you understand that I would be honored to save this write into my library favorites. Thank you so much for that. And thanks to Nisreenaa for relaying the RR. take care....dan

[Kathryn Smith]

Wow thank you so much! :) My parents do understands aspects of it though...but visually they can't..which is totally understandable. but thank you so so much.

[Kelly Scheppers]

What seems the hardest in our lives to overcome, is what truly defines our spirit! In the end, you have traded the ballet shoes of a dancer, for the pen of a seasoned writer.

Bless you!

[xansizi]

One of the things that comes through in this piece of writing is how the concept of 'normal' changes so much and is so unique to each person. When you mentioned at the end about having to give up ballet but were just glad you'd learned to dance I felt so humbled- those experiences caused you to appreciate little things that so many people take for granted. This was an inspiring piece of rwriting. Well done

[....................]

A friend requested that I read this and I am so grateful... I did not see a scarred person in this poem; I saw a person full of gratitude: for being alive and for having had the opportunity to dance... I think i will turn on a little music and dance for a few minutes (though it will hardly be ballet)... thank you for sharing this glorious piece with us!

[erinwrites]

Yeah this hit me and brought me to tears. I'm a dancer myself and I can't imagine losing it as a part of my life. I feel deeply for you and I hope you always remember how lucky you are to have been a dancer

[Kathryn Smith]

Aw thank you! I can still dance of course but I just don't think I'll be going back to the studio. Thank you for your kind words!

[Dara]

Your story is very inspiring and a testimony to your strength of character. It is true what they say that real beauty lies within and one can tell after reading this awesome write that you are truly beautiful.

[marcus]

Be proud of your scars, for they make you who you are, a better soul, than so many others, in this selfish world! You are Human, and that is beautiful!!

[Perkele.7885]

Life is a different path to the same eventual place for us all. We all have our own appointments to meet our Lord and Savior.
My road, like yours , Kathryn, has been a journey rather than an excursion.
But, you and I like so many others on roads of their own will get to where we are going and we will get there on His time clock. Relax and be who you are! Just be a wonderful you!

[B]

You are extremely beautiful

Your scars have made you one of a kind
possibly the most beautiful poem i have read on WC

You are stunning

And you have my love
though i do not know you

The way you came through

Waw

[wordman]

well i hate it that you had so many problems at a young age,and if i could change it i would
you wrote a great write