The Brave Little Bunny That Could

 “Ma’am, you’re walking kind of different. Are you in a lot of pain?”

Did he just say “different”? I stared at him, knowing he’d simply tried to be kind, but I still didn’t know what to say.

“Do you need anything?” he pried again.

“No, I’m good. I just got out of the hospital.”

“No sh*t! What’s wrong?” There are two kinds of people in this world, those who are nosy and those who aren’t.

“Well...complications with cancer. Stage four.”

“You don’t look like you have cancer! I just thought you hurt your leg,” he explained. This man could’ve been a lead biker in a huge gang. His long beard hung well over his chest, and he must’ve been almost a foot taller than me! “I am so sorry.” Then he looked at me like I’m this innocent woodland creature who is about to die. “Are you driving yourself home?“

“Yep—to Idaho!” I beamed.

“All alone?”

Would this “Hulk” man stop interrogating me? I laughed and slammed my sparkle gummy worms and pink energy drink on the counter. The thing is that: YES, I have cancer, and ya, I might’ve seemed like a damsel in distress, BUT I’m stronger than strangers expect.

“Listen,” I said to the man with a massive beard who works at Maverik. “If Columbus traveled all the way to America, and then pioneers could travel in covered  crap wagons—all the way to the western areas—then I figure I can drive myself home from the hospital.”

His eyes went wide, and then he broke out laughing—like a little bunny had just told him off. 

“I guess you’re right. You’re one tough woman!”

“Thanks!” Then I paid for my stuff and left. 

It’s so nice to be home now. And it felt good driving home. I rolled the window down and loved feeling the wind on my skin. I imagined being a little bunny, capably steering a huge ship through a terrifying storm.

I guess the point is that sometimes we limit ourselves. If we’re capable of doing things, then we should keep striving until we can’t anymore. What’s the point otherwise? 

So, I’m finally out of the hospital—I figure I got out on good behavior.