She smacked her lips and smiled, satisfied, before wedging the lipstick between her left arm and her jaw. She picked up the cap with her toes and screwed it close skillfully, the muscles of her thigh tensed under the effort, and put it back in her make-up tray. She swung her copper hair out of her face and set her foot on the floor, hopping across the bathroom and into the corridor. She met Harper halfway and greeted him with a kiss.

“Good morning, beautiful.” He wet her cheek and she continued on into their bedroom where he had set up her clothes for the day.

On a wooden standing rack, a simple black tank top had been stretched open to allow her to put it on with minimal effort. She hopped once more before slowly kneeling and resting her chest against a leather-covered transversal wooden piece. Shifting her weight onto it, she brought her leg closer to her, anchored her foot to the ground, and squatted back up, fitting herself neatly inside the top. The clips that had held it together snapped the empty air one after another as she scuttled back and sat on the bed, again bringing her leg up to fix the fabric around her waist.

Twisting around on her bum, she pushed her foot inside a nearby pair of jean shorts. Then, she raised her leg in the air and, satisfied with where it had crumpled at her thigh, sat again. From there, she waddled and dragged her ass on the sheets until the shorts were snuggly fit at her hips, standing up to reach the hooks on the wall. Small adjustments were made, mainly to an obstinate fold that wouldn't get sorted out, and she hopped out of the room.

“Is that peanut butter and Nutella ?!” Oona spoke excitedly as she eyed the sandwich on her plate. “My favorite!”

She cocked her head to one side and lifted her shoulder to look as cute as possible to her boyfriend. Butterflies filled his stomach.

“You say that every morning.” He smiled and kissed her again, covering her left arm stump with his hand, as if trying to hold hers. “Soon enough I’ll start to think you’re doing it just to tease me.”

“I’m teasing you because I love you.” She smiled in return and, after cleaning her sole against a leg chair, brought her foot to his face. On the right side of her hip, the fleshy, boneless stub of her leg sagged under her weight. She tensed its muscles clumsily and her limb firmed up, barely able to keep her from toppling forward. “Thank you.”

“You are..” He caught her foot and punctuated her sentence with kisses underneath each toe. “most….. welcome..”

She took a deep breath and sighed, pressing her arms at her sides. By the time he had given her foot back, she was already feeling tingly.

Bending over her plate, she mouthed her sandwich closer to her and over the edge to take a bite, smearing a bit of chocolate on the corner of her lips. She licked it clean and winked at her staring boyfriend before leaning over her cellphone.

“Huh? What’s this?”

As she investigated a curious looking email, Harper started sweating. The email read as follows :

To : Miss Oona Callahan

Object : Genetic Lottery

Dear Miss Callahan,

I hope this email finds you well. I am delighted to extend my heartfelt congratulations to you on winning the GenomicMed genetic lottery for 2024. This remarkable achievement is a testament to both your good fortune and the uniqueness of your genetic condition.

Your selection as the winner not only reflects the importance we give to each and all of our clients, but also our desire to change lives in a dramatic way. Our team is delighted and cannot wait to meet you.

We are keenly aware of the significance of this moment and the impact it may have on your life. Please know that we are here to support you in any way we can as you navigate this exciting chapter.

Once again, congratulations on this incredible honor. May this opportunity bring you joy and fulfillment in the years ahead.

Warm regards,

Orion Blaze, GenomicMed CEO

“Genetic lottery?” She frowned and read the email all over again, gesturing with her foot towards her phone. “I can guarantee you that Orion Blaze isn’t his real name. Sounds more like a supervillain.”

As she looked up GenomicMed on Google, Harper spoke up.

“Oona, you know how much I love you, right?”

She turned to him and narrowed her eyes comically, speaking in a stained, exaggerated voice. “What have you done?”

“I… This company does gene therapy, things that are absolutely insane and…”

“Harper…” She lifted an eyebrow, less amused than before.

“I … filled the form for their yearly grand prize using your information and your…” He hesitated, imprecisely lifting his chin towards her. “... condition.”

“And I won…?” She looked back and forth between her phone and her boyfriend, bringing her foot back on the table.

“Sure seems like it.” He wasn't too sure about her reaction yet. He thought she looked like a pot of boiling water about to splash into his face. “What do you think?”

She brought her arms closer together, almost touching. “Is that how… you talk to other people about me?”

He stammered. “I'm… not sure I understand..”

“You tell them I have a… a condition?” She raised her arms as if to do air quotes.

“Oona, please it’s not…” He rubbed his eyes and tried a different approach. “Look babe I love you, I really do...”

“But…” She anticipated, rolling her eyes.

“... But I see how hard you need to work to complete even the most basic tasks and.. and I thought…”

“Oh you thought? You thought?!” She stood up in anger, perfectly balanced on her single leg. “Yeah I perfectly understand what you’re trying to say. Your poor girlfriend has no arms and one leg, surely she would live to become normal and be cured of this condition, right?” She hopped and stomped the ground. “You didn’t think to ask me before doing all this stupid paperwork in my name?”

“Baby, nothing's set in stone, you don’t have to take the offer, it’s just…”

“Well it’s insulting, okay?!” Tears came in her eyes. “What if I don't want to learn?! What if I do get a pair of hands and now I gotta learn everything all over and over again and I can't?! Do you have any idea how bad my back hurts at the end of the day?! Always leaning, using my mouth and my stupid little arms?! What if that was all for nothing?!”

“Oona listen I'm sorry, okay? I meant no harm, I just thought it'd make you happy..”

“You could've at least asked me about it, Harper.” She fell back onto her chair and strained her neck to wipe her tears. “I would've told you no.”

He dragged his chair closer to hers and put his hand on her thigh lovingly. “I just wanted to make you happy, to make your life easier.”

She looked up at him and smiled through her tears. “I am happy. With you. The way I am.” Like reading her mind, he took her face in his hand and she pressed it against her cheek. “I don't mind missing three out of four limbs if you're the one taking care of me.”

They both smiled and fell into each other's arms.