Ashley Jade

Drawing a breath, I try to suck it in, but it’s no use. I could inhale until my lungs explode, but my belly will still extend beyond the waistband of my size eighteen jeans.

Jealousy blooms in my chest as I look around the parking lot, taking in every pretty girl with a toned, flat abdomen

Whoever said ignoring a bully was the best course of action was either a fucking idiot or someone who never experienced true torment

Absurd and scary. I used to tell myself all this fat-shaming bullshit would end after high school, but now I’m beginning to think that asshole kids grow up to become even bigger asshole adults and society is doomed.

We’ve never uttered a single word to one another…

But sometimes I feel like nobody knows him better than I do

I’m tired of people mistaking my kindness for weakness

Tired of accepting shitty behavior that I don’t deserve

Her voice is as resilient as she is.

I could listen to her sing all fucking day.

His expression is inscrutable before changing to one of curiosity. “Why aren’t you eating?”

Because fat girls don’t eat in front of hot guys they have crushes on.

It’s sort of an unwritten rule.

“So good it will be worth those forty-four-hour drives.”

With that, he releases me and opens his car door.

He’s reversing out of the driveway when I realize he was referring to the drive from Los Angeles to Dartmouth.

Don’t set yourself on fire to keep someone else warm.”