Any Other World

Her birth was the happiest day of their lives, their joy knew no bound. She was their precious little angel, with a face that could melt even the toughest of heart. Their heart skipped a beat every time she smiled. She was everything they hoped for, she was everything thing they needed. With her their world was complete, she completed them.

But as she grew there was something amiss about her, there was something not quite right about her. She was quite and withdrawn and kept to herself and often found it difficult to communicate. She was awkward and didn’t socialise easily with other children. At first they dismissed it with the thought that she was a late bloomer. But when these signs persisted they decided to get a check up.

She was diagnosed with a mild Autism. This information shook them, they felt like the ground beneath just gave away. The news shattered them. But once they were able to control their emotions they came to a realisation that they had a difficult road ahead, if they choose to tread down that road, but it would be for difficult for their little one. The world could be nasty place, especially cruel to ones who didn’t fit in the status quo. They worried more for the road ahead for her. But no matter what they were determined to give the life that she deserved, the life she needed, the best life ever.

They read up and met up and learned all they needed to know about autism. They took her to therapy sessions hoping to ease her into a world that would see and treat her differently. They did their best to make her self reliant, gave her all the love and support she needed, that she required to face the world. They showed her that though she would never be alone, she could also be self-reliant and independent, just like everyone else.

One day, on the suggestion of one of her friend, who had a dance studio, to bring her for one of the classes, maybe it would help get her out of her shell. She was initially hesitant but finally decided to take her, there was no harm in trying. At first she just stood there, refusing to join the other children. But as soon as the music began to play something lit up with in her. She slowly made her way to the children and very awkwardly joined them in the dance. She gave them a shy smile, much to her mother’s delight.

From that day on she made it point to take her for practice without fail. She noted that she found herself through music, dance gave her a way to express herself. They were all excited and nervous for her first dance recital but got worried when she just stood and began to cry. They were worried if this had scared her for life, she would never dance again.

But then she decided not give up on her love for dance cause she saw the joy it brought her. She would never give up on her and knew he too would do the same. So she continued to take her for dance classes. She saw her being drawn to Tap Dance. In the rhythm of the tap she saw finding herself, as if the taps was were calling, beckoning her to come out of shell, to loose herself in the sounds her taps produced. She saw the joy it brought.

There were a little apprehensive and hesitant when she announced she wanted to participate on a dance reality show. They were worried about the pressure it put on her and if she could cope with it. She had taken part in dance competitions before and had won a few, but this was a different level altogether. But when she assured them that she got this, they supported her 100 percent.

They sat nervously in the audience as she took to the stage and introduced herself. Through their nervousness they felt a calming sense of pride as she told her story and overcoming the hand that life had dealt her, makings lemonade of the lemons thrown her way. They couldn’t help but beam proudly, even tear up a bit. As she took a deep breath, they drew in a deep breath too. She slowly started tapping on cue, slowly reaching a crescendo as the music did the same, going at what seemed like 100 miles per hour. They felt her joy, her emotions, her feeling in those taps, and they knew everyone present there felt it too. She put her heart in every tap and the joy it brought her showed.

When she finally concluded her routine there was not a single dry eye in the house. They burst into thunderous applause, giving her a standing ovation.  And although it was just the audition round they knew she already felt like a winner. They were proud of her and what she had just done and what she just showed the world, she had just proven. Cause in any other world she would have been treated differently but in her world she was Like anyone else.