[ WP ] You were born with a large birthmark in the shape of a dragon . However , this is just a coincidence ; there is absolutely nothing magical about it , and you 're getting really tired of explaining this .

I used to have an active imagination. I used to make up fantastical stories about my dragon birthmark. It had many names while I was growing up: The Mark of the Dragon, The Mark of Dracula, Touch of the Devil. I feel these stories have greatly contributed to my own downfall. 
 
 With such a magical-looking mark, you'd think my parents would have ran with it and given me an interesting name. James. They named me James! The most boring name in the history of names. 
 
 To be fair, I lead a very unexciting life. I suppose James works. 
 
 My birthmark is glaringly obvious on the inside of my right forearm. Everyone sees it. They can tell right away it is n't a tattoo. I get comments about it Every. Single. Day. It's the only exciting thing about me, and I just ca n't stand it. I have to explain several times a day that it's not as remarkable as it seems. 
 
 
 I get so much unwanted attention for it - I hate it. 
 The attention is only unwanted because I do n't deserve it. Nothing about me is dragon-esque in any way. I'm not magical. I'm not a descendant of Vlad Tepes, nor am I the last of a long line of princes. I'm just James. From Missouri. 
 I've been unremarkable all my life. 
 I have a below-average job: knife salesman. *Sales specialist*. 
 I'm average at sports, I have a below-average amount of below-average friends. I live in a below-average apartment in a below average town, in a below-average state. 
 
 I have grown to resent the birthmark. I've spent my entire life in it's shadow. I do n't live up to its potential, to its possibilities. It promises amazement and phantasm. It delivers nothing. Less than nothing. It takes away from me. It takes away from my life. 
 
 I am doomed to disappoint at every turn. That's what this mark gets me. 
 
 Every day, I disappoint myself. 
 Every day, I disappoint everyone who sees the mark. 
 Every day, I explain to strangers how unmagical I am. 
 Every day, I hate it more. 
 Every day, I think `` what can I do?'' 
 
 Today, I have decided. 
 Today, I feel I can do it. 
 
 
 Today, I will conquer this dragon. 
 Today, I will cut it off.
