Labelled a Tiger
And sometimes, Our scars are emblazoned, For they need to be reference points. "Mummy, look! She's got the stripes of a tiger etched on her skin. Can she possibly pass for a tigress?" Jake's mum looked up puzzled and mystified. She mouthed I'm sorry to me. She was visibly shocked at her Son's rude utterance. Responding to her charge, she said, "Dear Jake, she's a normal human." Politely, I smiled at Jake's mum as though it were no problem. My heart sought to speak the language of freedom. My mind refused to be sober. Tears tickled my eyes and I knew I couldn't let out, at least not just yet. Gathering every ounce of respect left in her, she walked to me and spoke softly, " I'm sorry ma. Please forgive my son's crude joke. He had asked me to take him to the zoo so he could see wild animals, but somehow, I failed to create time for that". I smiled deficiently and told her, "It's OK. At least, he v