The Healing Horse, Ch. 23., Scene 11: Regaining Herself

image of white handkerchief
The examination ends, as little Karen retreats to the changing area, so she can pull herself together and put on her clothes. This symbolizes how she turns away from the evil experts, who see her as subhuman, and reclaims the identity she is creating for herself.

(Image courtesy of Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)

Scene 11: Regaining Herself

The room fell silent, as she walked behind the curtain. Once alone, in the changing area, her tears returned. Would one of the adults would come to comfort her? None did.

As she dressed, the experts murmured among themselves. There would be trouble, when she faced them.

She gasped and forced herself to stop crying, then wiped her face with the clean, white handkerchief that Mama said ladies always carry. There was no brush for her hair, so she ran her fingers through it, trying to smooth it down. The room did not have a mirror. The experts did not think a disabled child would care how she looked.

Original text ©2022 by Karen Lynn-Chlup. All rights reserved.

One comment on “The Healing Horse, Ch. 23., Scene 11: Regaining Herself
  1. sean Dineen says:

    Even now, you show the entire world, how to overcome, how to earn the respect of this blessed republic.

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