Marrying a Disabled Man: A Story Thank you for your support, your likes, your interest and your feedback on my stories, for subscribing, and a HUGE thank you from me and my five cats for all your donations. Please share any stories you’ve enjoyed on social media—authors appreciate it! My daughter came home late from her shift at the trauma clinic where she works as a nurse. She took a long shower and then, wearing her dressing gown, came into the kitchen. “There are some pork chops and pasta in the pan,” I suggested, peering at her face to see what was wrong. “Tired, Lucy? Why the glum mood?” “I’m not eating, I look awful enough as it is—if I gain weight, no one will even glance at me,” Lucy replied gloomily, pouring herself some tea. “Nonsense,” I exclaimed. “You’re perfectly fine—your eyes are clever, your nose and lips quite normal—don’t be so hard on yourself, Lucy.” “It’s just that all my friends have long been married, except me! Only the oddest blokes seem to like me. The ones I fall for don’t even notice me. What’s wrong with me, Mum?” she asked, waiting for an answer. “You just haven’t met your fate yet, that’s all—the time will come,” I tried to reassure her, but Lucy only grew more upset. “Right, well, ‘clever eyes’ because they’re tiny, thin lips and just look at my nose! If we had the money, I’d get plastic surgery, but we’re poor! So I’ve decided I’ll marry someone disabled—there are men at the clinic who got dumped by girlfriends after an accident or injury. What else am I supposed to do? I’m thirty-three, I can’t wait any longer!” “Oh, Lucy, don’t say that—your dad’s never been steady on his feet. I’d hoped my son-in-law would help at the allotment—such a big help for us, or how will we manage?” I blurted out, then rushed to backtrack. “Not that you should marry anyone just for that, Lucy, but not everyone is well-off. Why go for someone disabled? Our neighbour Alex is a decent chap, interested in you for ages—strong and healthy, your children would be too, and…” “Mum, please! Alex can’t keep a job, drinks too much, and we have nothing to talk about!” Lucy protested. “You don’t have to talk with him, I’ll send him to dig up the garden with the cultivator, then we can eat, or send him to the shop. He’s a good lad, diligent—maybe something would work out?” I suggested hopefully. But Lucy just pushed away her tea and stood up. “I’m going to bed, Mum. Seriously, I thought you at least thought of me as a real person, but you, like everyone else, think I’m a freak…” “Lucy, darling, how could you think that?” I called after her, but she just waved me off and closed her bedroom door in my face. She lay awake for ages, thinking of the lad who’d recently arrived at the clinic—he lost his leg below the knee. A piece of masonry had crushed it in a derelict house set for demolition—he’d gone in there for some reason and was trapped until they finally got him out, but his leg was beyond saving. No visitors came for him, and he wasn’t yet thirty. At first, he used to hold Lucy’s hand and look at her with wide, pleading eyes straight after surgery. Then, adjusting to his new reality, he’d just gaze silently at the ceiling. She felt more sorry for him than others—maybe because no one came for him. “You think I’ll ever walk again?” he asked her recently, not looking her way. “Of course you will—everything will heal, you’re young!” she replied firmly. “People always say that. Try living with just one leg—what kind of life is that?” he snapped, turning away from her as though it was her fault. “Why did you go in there anyway?” Lucy shot back, angry now. “It’s your own fault!” “Thought I saw something,” he grumbled. Now, whenever she entered, he kept turned away. Lucy studied him—pale, cold blue eyes, but a lovely face. She was sorry for him. “Pity me, don’t you?” he caught her looking one day. “It’s obvious. People like me are only pitied, never loved.” “Nobody loves people like me, either—even though I have arms and legs. I’m just not right—no one even pities me. Maybe it’d be better off if I’d lost a limb too, then at least I’d get sympathy,” Lucy snapped, tears prickling. That made Misha smile at her—really smile—for the first time. “Are you mad? You’re not ugly at all. Honestly, I look at you and can only envy the man you choose, believe it.” Lucy looked at him, and to her surprise, she believed him. She blurted out what had been on her mind: “If I chose you, would you marry me?” He was silent, so she pouted, “Silent means no—you’re just pretending! Got it!” She stood up to leave, annoyed. Misha hauled himself upright with his elbows as if to chase after her, remembered he couldn’t, and called after her: “Marry me, Lucy, I promise you soon no one will even notice my leg. I’ll recover fast—don’t go, Lucy!” Lucy and Misha She stopped in the corridor, on the verge of tears, but at the same time suddenly felt—he’s the one. It didn’t matter if her nose or eyes weren’t “right”, or if he was missing a leg. They’d found each other—that’s all. Her time had come, just like Mum said… Misha threw himself into rehab with passion. He had a new purpose now—to marry his wonderful girl and walk for their future together. He wanted Lucy to smile, to never feel unwanted again. He needed her, badly—he only wanted to share his life with her. “Have you fallen in love at last, darling?” Mum asked slyly soon after. “Look at you—you’re glowing, after telling me you were ugly.” Lucy didn’t even deny it; she floated everywhere on air. Her greatest wish now was for Misha to walk comfortably and get used to his prosthesis. They spent longer and longer out together, first in the clinic yard, then along snow-swept, New Year-lit streets. “They’ve demolished the old house now—right there, that’s where it happened,” Misha showed her once. “So why’d you go in—what did you see? You never told me,” Lucy remembered. “You’ll laugh—I saw a stray puppy in there, skinny, black with white patches, thought I’d take him home. Didn’t want to live alone,” Misha explained. “There’s a dog over there, all ribs and big, scared eyes,” Lucy pointed. “That’s probably him!” Misha grinned, and sure enough, the dog followed them all the way home, keeping his distance. “At least Lucy’s found herself a handsome young husband, and he’s got his own flat and no mother-in-law attached!” friends joked at her wedding. Lucy’s mum even shed a tear when Misha started calling her “Mum”. He was an orphan, no family at all. But a truly warm soul—and above all, they loved each other. May they be happy. Never mind the allotment—life is bigger than vegetables, and Misha does everything anyway and it all works out! Lucy and Misha live together with their dog, Kuzma—soon to be joined by another little one: they’re expecting a daughter. Never lose hope—or you might miss out and never know your chance at happiness. Life truly is wonderful in its unpredictability.

Marrying a Cripple. A Story

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My daughter came home late from the hospital, where she worked as a nurse in the trauma ward. She spent ages in the bath, then came into the kitchen in her dressing gown.

There are meatballs and pasta in the pan, I offered, peering into her face, trying to figure out what was wrong. You look tired, Alice. Everything alright?

Im not hungry. I already look awful, and if I eat any more Ill be completely hopelessno one will ever look at me, Alice muttered, pouring herself some tea.

What are you on about? I cried. Look at you! Youve got your wits, pretty eyes, a good nose and lips. Stop saying such things, Alice!

Its just… all my friends are married, and Im not. Only the most dreadful guys show any interest in me. The ones I fancy dont even glance my way. Whats wrong with me, Mum? she asked, waiting for an answer.

You just havent met the right one yet. Your time will come, I tried to reassure her, but Alice flared up.

Thats rightthe only thing Ive got are my pretty eyes, which are tiny! My lips are thin, and look at this nose! If I had money, Id have plastic surgery, but were skint! So Ive decided Ill marry one of the broken onesthere are plenty of blokes at the hospital whove lost limbs in accidents and been dumped by their girlfriends. What else can I do? Im thirty-three! I havent got time to wait!

Oh Alice, dont say that Your dad can barely walk. I was hoping a son-in-law might help out in the allotment, you know, lend a handhow else are we supposed to manage? I blurted out before I could stop myself, then hurried to explain.

No, dont misunderstand, Alice, not everyones rich, but you dont want someone crippled! Theres Charlie from next doorhes a lovely lad, always had an eye for you. Strong, healthy, youd have sturdy children, and

Mum, youre impossible! Charlie cant keep a job, he likes a drink, and weve nothing in common, Alice fumed.

What do you need to talk about? I tried. Ill ask him to dig over the allotment, then we can have lunch, or send him to pick up the shopping. Hes a good lad, hard-working, maybe you could give him a chance?

Alice pushed her half-empty tea aside and stood up.

Im going to bed, Mum. Honestly, I thought at least you saw me as a person, but youre like everyone elsethink Im hideous.

Alice, sweetheart, dont say that I called after her, but she just waved me off.

Thats enough, Mum!

She shut the door in my face.

Lying awake, Alice kept thinking about a patient theyd recently brought inthe young man whod lost his leg below the knee.

Hed been trapped by a slab in a derelict house marked for demolition. No one found him for a while; by the time they did, it was too late to save his leg.

No one came to visit him, and he wasnt even thirty yet.

Early on, just after surgery, hed clung to Alices hand and looked at her with such pleading eyes. But when he came to terms with it, he stared at the ceiling, silent and sullen. She pitied him more than anyone else, maybe because he was utterly alone.

Do you think Ill walk again? he asked once, not looking at her.

Of course you will, Alice replied, steady and certain. Youre young, youll heal.

Everyone says that. You try living without a legsee how you like it, he snapped, turning to the wall as if she was to blame.

Why did you go into that house anyway? she shot back, annoyed. It was your own fault!

I thought I saw something, he grumbled. Now, whenever she came into the ward, he turned his face to the wall.

She studied himhis eyes were light and cold as ice, but his face was handsome. Such a shame

Are you pitying me? he caught her watching him one day. I can see you are. Thats all anyone can do with me nowpity. No one could love someone like this.

Nobody loves me either, even though Ive got all my arms and legs. Im just… not right, you know? No one even pities me. Maybe Id be better off with no legsat least people might feel sorry for me, Alice shot back, suddenly close to tears at her own words.

To her surprise, Michael actually smiled at her thenhis first real smile.

Youre daft, you are. Younot pretty? Are you joking? I watch you and I bet whoever you pick will be the luckiest bloke alive. You believe me?

She gazed at him, and oddly enough, she did believe him. Then she finally said what had been on her mind for days.

And if I pick you, will you marry me? Silent, eh? Means youre lyingyou dont want me.

Alice stood up, her face stung with wounded pride, and started for the door.

Michael propped himself up on his elbows as much as he could, as if he might leap after her, before remembering he couldnt. He called out:

Marry me, Alice! I promise youno one will even notice my leg soon. Ill get back on my feet, I swear, dont go!

She paused in the corridor, stifling tears yet sensing deep down that he was the one.

It didnt matter about her nose or her eyes, or his leg. Theyd found each other, that was all.

Her time had come, just as her mum used to say.

Michael threw himself into rehab with passion. Now he had a goalto stand tall for the remarkable woman he loved, to be her husband and build their future.

He wanted Alice to stop feeling unwanted, to know she meant the world to him. Only with her did life make sense; he wanted never to leave her side.

Fallen in love at last, have you? I teased her not long after. Look at you, all glowingdidnt you say you werent pretty?

She didnt deny it. She was floating on air; the only thing she wanted was for Michael to walk properly again and get used to his prosthetic.

They took longer and longer walksfirst round the hospital garden, then through snowy, sparkling streets lit up for Christmas.

Thats where it happenedthe house that got knocked down, Michael said one evening. Thats where I was trapped.

But whyd you go in? You never told me what you thought you saw, Alice remembered.

Youll laughI saw a stray pup, looked half-starved, black with white patches. Thought hed freeze, so I wanted to take him home, Michael explained.

Looktheres a skinny dog now, looks just like you said. Hes watching us, scared to come close.

Thats himIm sure of it! Michael said, delighted, and the dog tagged along, following them all the way to their front door.

Alice landed herself a right catchhandsome, younger than her, owns his own place and no mother-in-law! her friends teased at the wedding.

Alices mum even shed a tear the first time Michael called her mum.

Hed grown up in care, with no family to speak of. But he was a wonderful, big-hearted man, and what mattered most was that they loved each otherlet them be happy!

As for the allotment, it hardly matteredMichael could turn his hand to anything and made it all work.

Now Alice, Michael, and the dogwho they named Patchlive together happily. Soon therell be another; Alice and Michael are about to welcome a daughter.

Never lose hope, or you might pass happiness by unnoticed.

Lifes true beauty lies in its unpredictability.