I was stunned by my date's response when I tried to shake her hand.

As I sat at the end of my bed, getting ready for my date, I couldn't help but feel a bit nervous. I carefully buttoned up my blue striped shirt, pulled on my "nice jeans," and even added a touch of aftershave. I wanted to make a good impression on Anna, the girl I had matched with on Tinder and had been talking to for a week now. Our conversations had been flowing effortlessly, from family to food, and I was feeling positive and ready to rock and roll.

But before I could head out the door, there was one important thing I had to tell her - I was disabled. I wanted to make sure she knew about my condition, arthrogryposis, and how it affected my joints and voice. But I also wanted her to know that despite my differences, I was still completely independent. I just looked and sounded a little different.

Anna didn't seem fazed by the news and even asked me about my disability. I proudly shared with her my sporting achievements, particularly my time as a wheelchair rugby Paralympian for Great Britain. She assured me that it wasn't a problem and we continued to plan our date.

I suggested Chinese for dinner, wanting to try something different from my usual Italian preferences. As I drove towards the restaurant, I couldn't help but feel confident. After all, I had faced many challenges and obstacles as a former athlete, and I was always ready for anything. But little did I know, nothing could have prepared me for what was to come.

As I arrived at the restaurant, I noticed that it was completely empty on a Saturday night. That's when it hit me - the staff would be our audience for the evening. I took a deep breath and tried to compose myself as I waited for Anna to arrive. I studied the menu, trying to distract myself from the nerves creeping in.

Finally, my phone lit up with a message from Anna - she was running late due to work, but she would be there in 10 minutes. I appreciated the heads-up, but by that time, she was already 15 minutes late. The sympathetic looks from the staff towards the cute guy in the wheelchair didn't help ease my nerves either.

Waiting for someone you've never met before can be a strange feeling. You wonder how the conversation will go, if it will be awkward or flow effortlessly. You question the purpose of the date and whether it could lead to something more. It's easy to get lost in daydreams and wonder if this person could be "The One."

And then she arrived. As our eyes met and we exchanged hellos, I couldn't help but feel a surge of confidence. But as I reached out to shake her hand, she patted me on the head. Yes, you read that right - she patted me on the head. I was taken aback, and the awkwardness was palpable. I couldn't help but notice the waitress's second-hand embarrassment as I tried to shake off the awkward moment.

But Anna seemed completely unfazed by her actions and we continued with our date. I was impressed by her intelligence and confidence, and I appreciated how she wanted to know more about me. We even talked about wheelchair rugby, something I rarely did on first dates.

As the evening wore on, it became clear that Anna wasn't entirely comfortable with my disability. She would stare when I moved my hands, and even offered to help me when I needed to use the bathroom. I couldn't help but wonder what she thought I needed assistance with. Did she think I couldn't take care of myself? Or was it an attempt to seduce me? (Spoiler alert: it didn't work).

Eventually, the date came to an end and I was more than ready for it to be over. I paid the bill and we said our goodbyes. As we stood outside, Anna told me how much she had enjoyed the evening and how nice it was to date someone so "inspirational" who had overcome so much. And just like that, I knew it was game over.

I politely declined her offer for a second date and decided that I was just too inspiring for her. The truth is, I haven't "overcome" anything - my disability is just a part of who I am. It's not something to be pitied or overcome. I've adapted to it, just like any person would adapt to any aspect of their life.

I never saw Anna again, but she did message me afterwards. I politely declined her offer and decided that I didn't need someone who saw me as "inspirational." My disability doesn't define me, and I don't want to be seen as someone who has "overcome" something. I am simply me, and that's enough.

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