DISABILITIES CHRONICLES

My gaze wandered through the bus window. Not really contemplating the view, because apart from the pavement and the worn-out buildings, there wasn't much to see. No, I was looking into the distance, a nice tune in my mind and to be honest, I was daydreaming.

I was dreaming, lost in a world that I created from almost nothing. In short, I could afford the luxury of getting lost in my thoughts, right there, in the middle of an almost empty bus on a Saturday night. A quiet Saturday night, where I had nothing else to think about but myself. No constraints, no obligations, no urgency.

I was daydreaming when suddenly I heard a small voice rising from the front of the bus. A small voice, but marked by a certain authority. The voice of a little girl, but a little girl who had incredible confidence for her age.

"The door, please." She asked in a strong and calm voice. She wasn't shouting, in fact, and her voice was simply raised enough to be heard over that of the driver. A polite yet firm voice.

Surprised, I turned my head. Indeed, there stood a little girl in the bus aisle, she couldn't be more than eleven years old. She was not alone, but accompanied by a lady in a wheelchair. The door opened and a sort of ramp came out to connect the sidewalk to the bus.

The lady was able to get off the bus without any trouble, closely followed by the little girl, who was keeping an eye on things. I followed them with my gaze through the window. Upon reaching the sidewalk, the little girl sat on the lady's lap. The lady activated the electric lift of the chair, and they both went up the very steep street together, nestled against each other.