It is wild how quickly people judge a situation without knowing anything about what someone has been through. This story shows how one woman, who had already survived something life changing, had to deal with a stranger deciding he knew her whole life just by looking at her.

Stuff like this matters because it happens to a lot of people with hidden or not so obvious disabilities. People think youth means you are completely healthy, or that if they cannot see an injury, it must not be real. This woman was tired of being treated that way, so she handled it in the most direct way possible.

Once you hear what she did to shut the man down, it is hard not to feel both proud of her and frustrated for her at the same time. It is worth reading to the end.

I (21F) was in a very bad car accident about three years ago. A drunk drive ran a stop light, cut off a semi-truck, which then crashed into me, sending me crashing into two different cars and then ultimately into an embankment. My car was mangled and my leg was crushed, completely destroyed, and it had to be amputated. I also lost a couple fingers (the tip of one and all of another). I’m also left with some gnarly scars that used to bother me but I’m learning to deal with them. I got a couple different insurance payouts and some pain and suffering money in addition to my medical bills being paid and with my money I purchased a custom-made leg to take the place of the one I lost. When I have pants and shoes on you can hardly tell unless you’re really looking. I still limp but some days I don’t have as pronounced a limp.

Earlier today I went to the store with my boyfriend, my sister, her girlfriend, and our mother. I drove. I had to learn to drive with my left foot but I’m really good at it now. I also bought a new car with my money and had to go through a ton of therapy to get past my PTSD but I’m doing well there now as well. So, I drove us, and because of my injuries (in addition to my leg I also have chronic hip, neck, and back pain, and some issues with my lungs from the time spent intubated in a medically-induced coma that led to pneumonia) I have a handicap placard for my car. I have trouble walking without getting tired so it really helps to park close to the door. Today I did so and unknowingly took the space from someone who was circling back around for it. Apparently the man had been looking for a close space and had missed the one I took and went down and around. He was still on the other aisle when I pulled in so I didn’t cut him off or anything and had no way of knowing he wanted the spot.

He parked in the yellow stripe zone and got out and immediately began confronting me about stealing a space from people who actually need it, how I’m just some kid who has no respect for those who are truly sick and suffering. He then ordered me to move. My group was urging me to just walk way but this has happened before and once the police were even called. I’m sick of people thinking that just because I’m young that I don’t have a legit need for a little extra consideration. I said “Okay”, and went to the car and got in like I was going to drive off. I was wearing a skirt and leggings so it wasn’t quite obvious at first but when I sat down I took my leg off and showed it to the man, including my stump. I then asked him if it was okay if I still parked there. He walked away calling me disgusting and rude and said I could have just told him and I made him look stupid.

My group was embarrassed and said that I made things awkward because there was a crowd. AITA?

Edit: in case anyone was interested: I’m not going to post a photo of my leg because of identification reasons but I’ll describe it. So the base color is ombre whiteish green to pale green and it has cherry blossoms painted on it, though sometimes I wear a silicone cover that resembles an actual foot and leg on days when I don’t want people to stare at me. I even have temporary stickies I can put on the “toes” to make it look like I painted my nails. It’s actually really cool!