There is a rare feature in me that I never liked. And, while growing up, I remember many times that I had wished to change it, but wishing to change it was, to me, a mirage. And, even if I could undergo any surgery to fix it, I was quite sure I would not be able to afford the bill.
It was a gift that I got from my grandmother from birth – a genetic blessing that has roamed in my lineage for many generations, my grandmother had told me. I am sure she wouldn’t want to give me such a gift if it was in her power to decide, but she gave me anyway.
I, too, will not want to pass it to my generations that will come from me, but if the potter decides to leave on his small vessel a similar design that he had also made on the bigger of its kind for aesthetic purposes, who am I to say otherwise?
I always stood out wherever I found myself, no matter the number of people there, even if they were as numberless as the sand on the seashore, I rarely met my kind. I guess it was because it was a blessing that was peculiar only to my family, and many people envied me for it.
I never mingled with people and I was very selective when I wanted to form my clique, as small and as young as I was back then during my elementary school days. My genetic blessing never allowed me. It was only those who admired me for my genetic blessing that came near me and became my friends.
I was despised by other people who did not appreciate my genetic blessing, and that made me feel bad, especially during my high school days. Everything about me changed at that time. I began to think that this planet, the Earth, was not for me, that I was designed for another planet, like Pluto, perhaps. Worst of all, I began to think that God who created me never meant me well to have made me in that form. As a result, I began to live a reclusive life.
Everything, including my perception of myself and what others think about me, changed when I met Cynthia in high school. It all began when she told me when we were in our final year in high school that she loved me and would want a serious relationship with me. We had been casual friends since our third year in school. Though we were just casual friends, we were very close, and she was one of the few friends I had in my clique, but to think that our friendship could culminate in a serious relationship was something I never imagined.
I never believed her until she showed me how true her emotion was when she started crying. I knew those tears were not crocodiles. Why do you love me? I had queried. I love your kind of dentition, Cynthia told me confidently.
Stop, Cynthia, I had shouted because I never believed any girl could be interested in having a relationship with me because of how bad I felt such a genetic blessing, my dentition was.
Peter, I have been your friend for about three years now. I tell you, I would not have come near you if I did not admire you for that, Cynthia had said, cutting me in when I wanted to air my displeasure.
But I have always felt bad about it, I'd told Cynthia in sincerity.
What, Peter! Oh, stop, please. Have you not read in the Bible that you are fearfully and wonderfully made? Do you suppose that God made a mistake when he gave you this kind of dentition? Cynthia had spoken softly.
My inferiority complex vanished when Cynthia hugged me tightly and gave me a peck that afternoon when we finished the discussion. I have never ceased to flaunt my genetic blessing - my impacted dentition with pride since that time because I know the one who created me did not hate me for having given me such a unique blessing.
And though Cynthia died during her days in college, I will always live to cherish her beautiful soul because she made me overcome my inferiority complex.