Chipped

The coffee cups sit on the shelf, all uniformly facing the same direction, displaying the beautiful christmas design for the season. They each wait to be chosen. Many have been sitting for a long time, many have been sitting for not so long. But all of them long to be chosen. They look forward to holding hot and cold drinks alike. Greeting the lips of whoever chose them each morning or night. They all want the same thing. Towards the front, there is a mug that is slightly chipped. The top has a piece missing, the inside is a little dusty too. Most people skip over this mug all together. It very rarely even gets picked up. It isn't riddled with the gift of fingerprints like the other mugs. Most other mugs at least catch the attention of a few people. And a few lucky ones are purchased. 

One little girl comes into the store and goes straight to the big shelf of mugs. Her eyes run over all the beautifully painted cups. She grabs one in each hand. In her right hand is a perfect mug; clean and no cracks or missing pieces can be seen. It's perfectly painted and glossed over, it slightly glints in her hand from the reflection of the lights above. The mug in her left hand is the broken one, with a big chip missing. It's dusty and dirty. The girl looks at both of these mugs. Both mugs excitedly hope to be chosen. They anticipate her decision with worry and optimism. The girl sighs out, "What a shame" and places the broken mug back on the shelf. She skips forward, happily into line to purchase her perfect, clean, new mug. The broken mug sits on the shelf again, yet to be used, yet to be loved, only collecting more and more dust.