The best Me There Is

For as long as I can remember I was always the guy lost in the shadows. Meeting new people felt like a nightmare, making friends was always a hassle. I could never really fit in anywhere not even with the crowd no matter how I tried words always elude me so I was always on my own. My self esteem was really poor and I never saw myself being good at anything which really halted my growth as a teenager transitioning into a young adult.
That was my life until 2021 when I met my first female friend or should I say she forced her way into my life in college (laughs) in College . Deborah was a really chubby girl, outspoken, beautiful and short. She possessed a personality drew people to her but I thought she was a spoilt brat that should be kept at arms length. I never seemed to like her so there was never any reason for us to talk even though we were practically next door neighbors.
We both frequent the campus at night for reading but I would do well to avoid her as much as possible because she looked like a walking distraction and her friends were notorious troublemakers (at least that was rumor on campus).

During my study session, I caught a glimpse of Deborah at the window, it looked like she was searching for something or someone but what the heck it was none of business. Immediately she saw me inside the hall, she walked up to me and told me that she was looking for me and that we should read together because her friends were not helping her study. I tried to object but she kept imposing until I finally gave in . Since we were both neighbors we decided to go home together and during our conversations I soon realized that we were not so different after all. That was the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

Deborah became a very close friend and confidant , trying to get me out of my feelings and assuring me that I was worth something. One day she bought a very big mirror, called me to come look at it and as I stood there confused about what was happening she said something that really shook the deepest part of my person, she said:
"Emmanuel I bought this mirror for you. I want you to look at your reflection every day and say to yourself ' I look good and I can do it all"'.
I was completely stunned, not only did she know I hated my looks but she also went out of her way this gesture, seeing something in me that I did not. That day everything changed. Her words and the mirror became the pivot of my journey towards self improvement.
I know I am not where I need to be right now but I am a long way from where I was and for that i am grateful.
Growth doesn't happen in a day, it is a gradual process and I am ready to embrace it with open arms.