They call me "The Creature".
Once you see me in person, you'll figure out why.
See, I was born with serious facial deformities that threatened my very existance. I can't count how many surgeries I've had to try to correct some of the more severe deformities; yet to most people, I still look pretty hideous.
My name's Nathan. Nathan Lake. I'm sixteen years old, don't have that many friends (guess my ugly appearance frightens them off), spend a lot of my time alone. It hurts not to have any friends; I'm a pretty likable guy, like to have fun, like to write poetry/stories, play my guitar, attempt to write lyrics.
Other than my face, I'm as normal as you. I dream, I cry, I laugh, I get annoyed at my family when they hack me off. I guess what I'm trying to tell you is to try to look underneath the surface, see the "real" me inside. Don't judge a book by it's cover, I've heard people say time and time again.
People call me many names, among them being "Monster", "Freak", "The Creature" (the most common nickname), "Ugly", even worse ones that I can't put down here 'cause they're so nasty. It hurts; sometimes so bad I'm to the point of tears. I can't tell you how many times I've come home from school in tears, bemoaning the fate that's been placed upon me.
Mama and daddy have tried to be supportive; still, it's hard when I have to have another surgery, have to spend more time in the hospital. I have been in the hospital so much every nurse and doctor on the pediatric wing knows me by name, and I can tell you for a fact that hospital food tastes like gruel; it's gross!
They have tried to make me see past my deformities; howevver, when people stare, point, or make inane (or hurtful) comments regarding my appearance, this is when I wish the ground would open right up, swallow me whole.
This is when I wish I didn't have facial disabilities; I wish I looked more like anyone else.
Maybe then they would stop with the hurtful names, treat me like I want to be treated: with respect, compassion, or dignity!
I will be writing in here again soon; I have more of my story to tell.
~Signed, "The Creature" (Nathan), aged 16.
