78 Prejudice Is Taught Not Born (2/2)

”You…don't think I'm disgusting.”

Ash frowned and a small divot appeared between his brows. ”Why would I think that?”

Because everyone else did? He was the only one who didn't follow convention! ”Well, look at me!” she exclaimed weakly.

”I am.”

And he was. He was staring at her every bit as intensely as he had earlier but she didn't feel like a freak on display. Somehow she felt wanted. Even cherished, which also did not make a single iota of sense.

”I'm a mutation. A freak! So how can you look at me and not be repulsed by what you see?” Ruby demanded.

”I don't think you're a freak,” Ash said softly as he brushed back a strand of hair that was getting into his face. ”I think you are rather colorful but that isn't a bad thing. Tell me though…am I crazy or did your blue arm turn pink in the past five minutes?”

She sighed heavily. ”You aren't crazy. I'm an ever-changing patchwork of gem and rock patterns. Sometimes most of me is one color or pattern but more often I look like this with scattered bits and pieces everywhere. I don't think I've ever seen my eyes both be the same at once though. My hair can be one color or five. Honestly, I'm kind of a mess.”

Ruby had never talked to anyone about her affliction like this. She hid it away and was stuck dealing with it on her own whenever she passed a mirror or reflective surface.

Ash smiled. ”I don't that that qualifies you as a mess. You're like one of those roulette wheels in Las Vegas—you never know what you're going to get. You're a surprise.”

She actually laughed out loud at his description. It was so random yet fitting. And positive too; surprises were meant to be good things. Nobody had ever described the way she looked like this.

”You're the first to think that way. I have always hid this secret about myself. Even Flora doesn't know what I actually look like so I'm a little worried she'll wake up before I can put my glamour back on.”

”You don't need to, you know. She's a baby and prejudice is taught not born. She's young enough that she would be able to accept you as you are, especially since you said she adores you already,” Ash pointed out.

Ruby shuddered at the thought. What if he was wrong? What if Flora still rejected her? She wouldn't be able to handle that; she really wouldn't.

That did raise a question though. ”If prejudice truly is taught not born then why aren't you? You've been around a long time. Why are you able to accept me when no one else ever has?”