It’s hard when you’ve been tossed to the side. Sometimes, you’re thrown away because you’re broken with almost no hope for being repaired. Other times, it’s just a few pieces that might be snapped or loose. Every now and then, though, what gets tossed to the side is neither broken nor even a little damaged. They’re still whole and in one piece, and all the little things they can do still work as good as the first day. Yet, whoever was the previous owner just got tired. One day, they saw no further use, and just decided to throw you away, like you’re worthless.

At first, you think that maybe there might’ve been some kind of mistake. After all, there’s no reason in your mind for being where you are. It’s hard to see what’s really going on. Besides, nothing was wrong. You’re not broken. You’re not damaged. So there seems to be no reason at all. Then, after awhile, still there in that same spot, no one’s come to find you. And that’s when you begin to realize what’s happened. This wasn’t a mistake. They’re not coming back to find you. But it still just doesn’t make sense to you. Why are you here? How did you get here? The questions repeat themselves in your head over and over again. Why? How? Why? How?

Finally, you realize you’re going in circles, with no answers in sight yet. So you start making up your own answers. Maybe you are defective. Maybe you are broken and useless. That’s just it, you think to yourself. Something’s always been wrong with you, but you just couldn’t see it. You’re snapped, you’re twisted, and there’s nothing of worth in you. So any desire you might’ve had to get up, to move forward, just leaves you. What’s the point?

Most people don’t stop to help either. No one even notices you’re there. Covered in dust and dirt, your existence loses meaning.

That’s how things were for me. Until one particular day came by that didn’t seem any different from other days at first. There I was, in my corner. Cars passed by in the streets in front of me. Things were busy, as usual. The sun was out, without a cloud in the sky. It was a nice day in this city I’d become used to over time. It was odd, though, because the sun usually wasn’t shining this brightly, or at all. But it was still nice to see. And as usual, people passed me by, always in hurrying to one way or another. Not a single person stopped by my side though. Not a single soul stopped to recognize the fact that I still did exist, however meaningless day to day living had become.

I was used to this though. After all, no one should bother themselves with something broken and useless. No one should even bother to use a little of their time to look at me, anyway. After all, there were other things to see that weren’t broken, that were whole and useful, and that were beautiful.

For some reason, I started wondering to myself, what did I look like right now? It’d been a long time since I’d seen a reflection of myself in the mirror, so I couldn’t be sure. The last time I saw myself, I was complete, beautiful, and had not a spec of dust. Everything worked properly. Now, I assumed that I must’ve been caked in dust, chipped and scratched in a few places, maybe even a few pieces missing and broken off. Well, that’s how I felt I must’ve looked like. If I had a mirror, though, I would have probably smashed it to pieces before even using it. I’d do anything to avoid seeing myself.

I hadn’t realized that two shadows stood hovering close by. People had stopped to look at me. So I have visitors, I thought to myself. Maybe they had paused because of a trick of light, and were trying to see what it was. It happened sometimes. They’d be gone soon.

“What’re you looking at?” The voice was vaguely feminine, slightly soft, yet crass at the same time. It repulsed me a little.

“There’s something tossed over there.” Now the voice was masculine, light and musical. It seemed to dance over my ears. I liked it. I heard a few footsteps approach me now, and soon I saw a face peer at me. The man was young, barely past being a boy in my eyes, yet he had all the maturity of an older person. He seemed like a puzzle maybe, someone that I needed to work on figuring out if given the time. Some of his hair fell over his eyes, casually, as if it were meant to be there.

Still, I wondered why he was here. There was nothing special about something defective.

“It’s dirty, you really shouldn’t bother,” said the woman. “If you want one, you could easily just buy a brand new one. Though I didn’t know you had such weird tastes…” Much as I didn’t like the voice, I felt she had a point. He could just buy a new one.

“Well, I don’t see the big deal,” said the man. “What’s a little dirt? It’s not like I can’t clean it off.” He smiled. He looked beautiful now. As he kept peering into my face, I wasn’t sure what to do or think. No one had paid me any real attention for so long that I was at a loss, really. And yet, here was someone now, taking the time to stop by, taking the trouble to see who I am, or who I might’ve been.

“She’s beautiful.” Softly, he stroked a cheek of mine. I was surprised at how softly it passed over my skin. Was I still that smooth?

The woman sighed. “Then take the thing, if you must.” I heard her footsteps move ahead. The man picked me up carefully by the hand, carefully, as though I were made of porcelain. I was surprised at how I was to move and stand up still. I was surprised at how I still moved and felt the same. I was surprised by it all. I looked at the man’s eyes. They were a dark brown, almost black. I could lose myself in them if I tried.

“Don’t mind her,” he said, laughing a little. “She just doesn’t know how to find beauty in darker corners. But then, most people don’t.” He looked over me a little. “Anyway, you’re in one piece and in perfect conditions too. I can’t see why anyone would toss you away, really.”

I blinked, not sure what to say at first. I’m sure that if I could’ve blushed, I would’ve right there. “So all this time, I was fine? Nothing was wrong with me?”

He shook his head. “You’re beautiful and perfect as you are.” He took my hand softly. “So tell me, what’s your name?”

My lips curled up a little, into a small smile. “It’s Freya.”

“Well Freya, shall we go?” I nodded.

I was finally fixed.