written by Life Poorly Drawn

With my face pressed up against the window, I watched the cars race past, each one seeming more in a rush than the last. Everyone always seemed so rushed. Nobody stopped to catch their breath anymore. Be here, do this, go there, take this, bring it there... Why couldn't people slow down? Sure, they wouldn't get as much done, maybe they might not get that huge promotion they were after, but they would enjoy themselves more. If they slowed down a little, maybe they could spare a minute to look around, appreciate the world for what it really is...

With a large thump the bus grazed a pothole, bringing me out of my reverie. I turned my attention away from the window as I looked around the bus, watching people watch me. As my eyes met theirs, they averted their gaze, embarrassed. I didn't blame them. I probably would have done the same had I been in their shoes. My appearance was not something that most people were used to, and seeing someone like me without some sort of escort or helping hand was even rarer. Besides, I was used to the looks. I was used to being different.

I returned to my previous activity, watching all the busy people out the window. Sure, they all had money, and power, and important things to do, but they all looked so unhappy. I never had any of those things. When everyone else my age was being praised for bringing home an “A” on their last spelling test, I was being praised for being able to feed myself. I spent my whole life slower than the rest of the world. When I was smaller I used to get so frustrated. I would see all the other children my age doing all these amazing things—like multiplication and writing in cursive—and I was still struggling to grasp my pencil properly. The only thing I ever had that they didn't was that extra chromosome.

But as I watched these people through the bus window, I became glad I existed in a slower world. Even though I would probably never be able to be as successful as most of the “normal” people, my slower pace let me stop and appreciate the little things. I was able to take things at my own pace and really look around at the world.

As the people rushed by in their cars, chatting purposefully on cell phones, with their things to do and places to be, I watched and I smiled. They would never know the joy of just sitting and looking up at the sky in wonder at its vastness. They would never be able to truly appreciate the brilliant colors of the flowers. They would never be able to see the true joy in just slowing down.

I worked hard to get where I am, while everyone else got there in a quarter of the time. It took me almost twenty-five years to achieve what a normal person would have achieved by the age of fifteen. I had always resented that I had to work so hard and that it took so long for me while it just sort of happened for everyone else. But as I was looking out the bus window thinking these thoughts, I didn't mind anymore as I realized something...

I'll always have one up on them.