The Boy with His Heart on His Sleeve and the Girl Who Never Tried to Fix Him
A short story by Max Andrew Dubinsky
Originally published by DailyLove on September 17, 2010
I was born with my heart on my sleeve. When the doctor handed me over to my mother he told her to be careful. “He’s fragile,” he said.
Mom cried when she held me, overjoyed at the prospect of raising a son who would be so in touch with his emotions.
My father sat in the corner, shaking his head, already disappointed in me like I had any say in the matter, like I wanted to be born this way.
“It’s not all that uncommon of an affliction,” the doctor tried to reassure him. “Lot’s of men carry their hearts on their sleeves.”
“I think he’s beautiful,” mom said, tears still in her eyes.