The Misfortunes of a Knock-Kneed

Yup, I am! Though, moderately so, I dread walking on an uneven surface for I am prone to injuries.

Just recently, I sprained my left ankle as I was walking towards KFC. It hurt so bad, I fell on my knees and couldn't get up. Fortunately, a friend came to help me. Otherwise, people would've wondered why I am kneeling on the side of the road, in front of KFC, as if begging for food!

Several years back, a similar incident happened to me. We were walking towards the parking lot after a tiring day at a resort. I was carrying my tired and sleeping cousin in my arms when I stepped on a hole and twisted my ankle. We both fell on the ground. She cried, of course, not because she was hurt but her sleep was disturbed. She only stopped crying when another cousin picked her up. The damage it caused me: a dislocated joint (which was corrected already).

Those are the major "sprain events" I can remember. On any ordinary day, while rushing to get a ride: jeep, bus or FX, if I'm not careful, I'd surely sprain my ankle. Even if I'm not rushing, just walking, I'd certainly be injured if I don't exercise precaution.

Through the years, I have learned to watch my steps. I'm always looking down when I walk, not because of inferiority complex but of fear of injuries. However, I quickly forget and only reminded when I am already hurt.

And even the stairs are dreadful for me. When climbing up or going down, I prefer to do so on the side of the railing or wall than at the center, for fear of falling. Thoughts of me falling down the stairs always pop up in my mind and bring funny memories not too long ago.

One cleaning day, back in high school, I was scrubbing the stairs with some of my classmates. We were fooling around while cleaning and I told them I can spin the husk while I'm on top of it. Which I did successfully! But when it stopped, I lost my balance and fell on 7 flight of stairs, head first!

Now, that has nothing to do with being knock-kneed. But this one incident is.

I was on a field work, with my partner in Ortigas Center. To better represent the company we work for, we were dressed to impress. As in 3-piece suit, closed shoes and fully made up.

We were on our way to the admin office to secure permit and the elevator was taking forever to come so we decided to take the stairs, since it's only 1 floor down.

As I started my descent, I had a misstep and lost my balance. I tried to reach for the railing but it was too late: I was already falling! All I could do was cover my face as I fell 12 flight of stairs, again, head first. And as if that wasn't enough, my head hit the wall!

The impact of the fall was heard downstairs as well as on the 2nd floor. A man rushed down to help me, as well as my partner, with one of my shoes in her hand, trying hard not to laugh.

I laid there motionless for about 10 seconds but quickly got up when I remembered I was wearing a skirt. I forced myself to stand and walk the remaining steps towards the admin office to call my supervisors. When they heard what happened to me, they laughed hysterically and I laughed with them too not because I found it funny at that time but I didn't want to cry.

Though funny, I never want to experience it again. Now, I am extra careful everywhere I go, yet accidents happen. I finally resolved to myself that if it's bound to happen, IT WILL HAPPEN. Sigh.