Revenge is such a dark theme and, I suppose, The Retropolitan knew that when he offered it as his one-word post topic.
I’ve been struggling with writing a revenge-related post since accepting it. This is my third post. Two deleted. Let’s see if this one makes it.
When my unemployed, video-game playing, Fresh Prince of Bel Air marathon-watching fifth-grader Princess Buttercup was almost three months old, she was severly injured by one of her babysitters. Buttercup was the sweetest baby (still is), but something snapped in the babysitter and he shook my baby until she lost consciousness.
The shaking caused severe brain swelling and a stroke on her right side. She was (still is) partially paralyzed on her left side. She was comatose for three days, in ICU for seven and she was sent home as an inpatient after 10 days. She remained a three-days-a-week outpatient for three years. In almost twelve years, she has not known a week without some form of therapy, occupational, speech or otherwise. She’s a hard worker, loves to learn. She is one of my favorite people in the world and I would probably say that about her even if she were not my daughter.
When we were in the hospital (I say we because I couldn’t leave her there, even for a minute. One of the nurses sent me home the second night, promising to take good care of her, and I raced back the next morning and didn’t leave again until discharge), I got very interesting offers from people who knew people who could “take care” of the man who injured Buttercup.
I know people who know people? Who knew?
I couldn’t get there with them. I rejected all offers.
Since that day, we’ve spent nearly twelve years in therapy, six years and counting in special education, countless days, minutes and seconds laughing our butts off because I’ve got a great kid with a wonderful sense of humor. She loves her family and her brother worships her. He may not appreciate her opening his fruit snacks packages with her teeth, but he lays at her feet as she whips him in head-to-head video games and Wheel of Fortune.
Not only do I get to keep her around for a few extra decades, I get to show her how to be an honorable human being. I am very grateful for that.
“Success is the best revenge.”
Bonus points to the person who tells me who said that without using a search engine.
Points to the next one-word post prompt accepted in comments.
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