I’ve often been told that my “disability” is a blessing in disguise. I’ve yet to see it as a blessing or a disability. It neither harms or benefits my health. I’m able to live a relatively normal life, but only if I follow the rules set in place.

Keep my hair down at all times when in public spaces. If the weather is anything but fair, bring an umbrella or a hat. As long as my ear is not revealed, that’s what matters. Which sadly means that I can’t go swimming whenever I want or ride rollercoasters. There was one incident when my 4 year old sister pulled on my hair while we were in a restaurant, and by my mother’s reaction, you would have thought she had seen a ghost.

I was born seemingly healthy, weighing 7 lbs and 8 oz. Immediately the nurses and doctors noticed that something was off. My right ear was unusually large. It was the size of an teenager’s ear and I was a newborn baby. My parents were freaked, especially my mother. She demanded the doctors run tests to figure out what was wrong. A nurse told my mom that I was healthy as a horse and my “defect” was not a result of any serious condition. “I don’t understand! Where could this have come from?” she had asked.

Currently I’m 16 years old and have adapted to living with this. My left ear is normal for a person my age. My right ear on the other hand, is almost the size of my hand. It’s slightly more pointed and has a pinkish tint. My mother was always worried about what people would think, so she always kept it hidden under a wig or a hat. I know she loves me, and I also know that she is a control freak. Being a control freak and having a daughter with something like this was difficult for her to deal with. Yet I go to school, I work as a cashier and I try my best not to let it control MY life.

“I’ve been married to you for 16 years Bryan. 16 year!” After my mother screams, I hear glass break downstairs. “Get out, get out!” I slowly open my bedroom door to sit in the hallway near the stairs. “You’re behaving like a maniac! This is uncalled for, Cassie.” “You lied to me. Our daughter is a freak because of you! You had the same condition but chose to lie about it.” “Shh! She’s upstairs! She probably heard because of your yelling!” “Doesn’t really matter now does it, Bryan. You managed to get plastic surgery so you could be normal. I guess that made you feel so normal, that you didn’t need to tell your WIFE! Your DAUGHTER?!”

I cover my mouth to prevent the sobs from being heard. Tears fall down my face as I slowly slide up against the wall. I walk down the stairs as I wipe my face a few times. I walk towards the kitchen and see my parents. “Really Dad?” He covers his face with his hand and cries. “Look what you’ve done to her Bryan.” I walk towards my mom. “To who, mom? To your freak daughter?”