Author: Mercedes González

I have a friend who reproaches me for using public transportation to get around, because of how hard it is to get the wheelchair inside the bus. One day, when we went to the theater together, I had a chance to explain to her why I do it.

In this space I have told a few passages of my life, the difficult life of a disabled woman, but not for people to take pity on me or give away anything. However, kindhearted people have been moved and have given me help, as well as others with a similar situation to mine.

I recently started practicing a sport I knew nothing about before: wheelchair tennis. I was eager to try my hand at it the moment they talked to me about it, particularly because I like challenges. Even though I didn’t even knew it existed till recently, I am rather good at it.

The hot weather we’re having has one daydreaming about the beach the day through. The beaches to the east of Havana are relatively close – for anyone in Havana who enjoys full physical faculties, that is. For disabled persons, however, it as though these beaches were thousands of kilometers away.

At the pharmacy, I ran into some of the mothers of my son’s friends. We had a long conversation and, like always, almost every topic had to do with the central issue in our lives: children. Everyone, mothers and children, would be grateful if there were places for teenagers at affordable prices.

We are different on the outside. On the inside, however, we are just as sensible as anyone else. We’re somewhat vulnerable, but that doesn’t make us weaker. Perhaps a bit old-fashioned for today’s world, we try and make the most of all the ways of showing love and affection.