I Couldn't Help Being Different Flashcards
I couldn’t help being different.
You might see a normal boy on the outside, but my brain is in a whole different world to yours.
I have autism, it makes me more sensitive to my surroundings and the only way my brain can cope is to be very cautious about absolutely everything.
But don’t think I am sad. I am satisfied with who I am, despite what anyone else thinks and I will always be.
Some people don’t like me this way. I have understood that will be a battle I have to fight, probably for a life time.
I have understood that will be a battle I have to fight, probably for a life time.
In my infancy, I would be as quiet as a mouse around my home.
In contrast my sister would always make a scene like an idiotic puppy.
I would move past her without a word.
Unsurprisingly, my parents were worried about my lack of sense of humour.
Like madly twittering birds they bickered with each other.
I was taken to a specialist then and diagnosed with my problem.
As I progressed through school, I began to face problems.
They all knew about my diagnosis of autism.
Posturing parents, sneering students and teasing teachers tortured my brain with misery.
I walked treacherous corridors like a crippled man waiting for death to greet him with kind arms. Classrooms were rooms full of brooding devils, waiting for people of difference like me to take as a new victim. Without any friend to turn to I suffered the daily torture of cruel comments. As if I were a toddler they would mock me like parrots and snatch my burdensome bag to graffiti it and to steal my possessions.
I walked treacherous corridors like a crippled man waiting for death to greet him with kind arms.
Classrooms were rooms full of brooding devils, waiting for people of difference like me to take as a new victim.
Without any friend to turn to I suffered the daily torture of cruel comments.
As if I were a toddler they would mock me like parrots and snatch my burdensome bag to graffiti it and to steal my possessions.
But I am far away from this now.
My family have moved to a village up north where emerald grass and gently swaying trees litter the landscape rather than shiny plastic bottles and cigarette stumps that provide the landscape of the miserable towns.
I am now home schooled by my caring mother rather than a misunderstanding teacher.
I feel safe anywhere I go.
I can be me.
I can make a new start to my life and be an average citizen.
I am excited, more excited than ever before, about being seen as someone who is different but accepted.
I hurt no one.
