The Incident That Changed Me

It's been almost three months since I faced what might be the biggest accident of my life. I injured my spine, just a day before the Indian Independence Day – 14^th of August, 2016. The most difficult consequence is that I can’t feel my legs; the most beautiful one, that I understood how “everything happens for a reason.”

People all around me say that when you’re in trouble, only those who really care about you will come to help, to make you smile, to make you feel better. It wasn’t until this happened that I understood the true essence of this statement. Some people also say that I’m way too mature for my age – I’m going to be 15 – but that’s perfectly fine, especially when they use this to praise me. I mean, who doesn’t like to be praised, right?

Around two weeks before my accident, I was in a teenager crisis, fighting with whom I considered to be my closest friends. One reason was they had made new friends, with whom I was very uncomfortable. Another, I had suddenly become so dependent on my friends that I would never like to be left alone. I guess I had just never come out of my class 9^th popularity. Last year, in class 9^th , I was the General Secretary of my school, and this had made a huge difference in my life. I was popular, interacted with so many students and teachers at all times. Such a busy time it was, being a part of the student council. Then came class 10. A new life, a new world. The student council changed, and I realised how arrogant I had become. I was shocked the day I realised that I wasn’t the same silly bugger who could get along, company or not. In fact, friends were all that kept me going at school. Of course, I was aware that I had become a part of a lot of gossip, but some perfectly horrid creature in my mind just kept telling me, “They’re just jealous of you babe! You don’t need to worry!”

Thank god, I realised at the right time what the consequence of this could be. After that time came these two weeks, when my friends had got over me, but unfortunately, I was a bit too late to get adjusted to all this. Then God decided to give me a break from all this tumult in my life, and here he put me, in my bed for a month, then sitting for another one and a half.

As the first two weeks passed by, I noticed that even though my friends made new friends and were hanging out with them, they never really forgot me. And those whom I wouldn’t bear to talk with, actually came to visit me twice or thrice till I came home. All this wonderful stuff happens to me even today, almost three months after the life-changing day of my life.

Truly amazing, how tough times change people. I really thank God for making me the person I am, not making me cry at any point, or become weak. I guess now I know, why most of those who know me, call me a Little Lioness!