It never started

I woke up this morning a little better, showered as usual and as the steam cleared I gazed at the person in the mirror disappointed. Chubby cheeks dotted with freckles, eyes too small, two sagging layers of fat around the belly, thick black hair, and all the flaws almost made me gag. I hated myself.

"Morning Angie," mom greeted as I dragged my bulky self downstairs. "All ready for school?" she asked "yes mom" I managed to grumble. I put a spoon full of cereal in my mouth and the rest in Bruno's bowl. He happily munched on it.

I walked through the long corridor looking for my class, 11C. As I entered I spotted Mike. I hurriedly looked down at my feet and he took a few steps towards me. "Hey Pamela, it's pretty cold huh?" "Yeah I said turning a rosy red. Mike was charming and artistic too. I liked him a little too much. "Nice sweater" he said "Thank-"I was cut off by a shrill voice "Oh look! Fatty patty" shrieked Stacy. She was the most popular girl in school. Her pretty friends giggled. "Why are you talking to fatty Mike?" she said, grabbing him and walking away with her group of pretty friends behind. Tears welded in my eyes. I knew this happened daily, but today was worse, today Mike witnessed it all.

As the classes went by, the teachers put forth many questions, I knew most of the answers, I didn't dare raise my hand in fear of being made fun of. It had happened before. The bell rang and my stomach grumbled, I unwrapped my lunch. I knew the food I had this morning was not enough to fuel my body. When I finished and turned around, there stood Stacy. Her blond hair glistening like sun rays, the perfect stature. She frowned at me like I was dead mouse. "Ew Fatty, she might gobble up your lunch!, careful" she commented followed by giggles as usual. I ran off, tears streaked across my cheek, I tripped on a stone and fell to my knees. I couldn't take it anymore, I'd had enough. So I put my finger down my throat, which made me throw up everything I had eaten. "There," I though "the disgusting pig that I am." I stayed that way dazed for a while.

A shadow fell upon me; I was too embarrassed to turn around. I guessed it was Stacy, "sorry Pamela", it was Mike, I wanted to disappear. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a hanker chief, "here" he said, I took it and wiped my chin. "I saw your art the other day," he chirped. It was an escape for me, but I never let anyone see it. " its pretty rad, you know what, you should stay after school" he told me. "for…?" I trailed off. "we have a after school gatherings, a small group and me, we do art and I'm sure they'll like yours" he said as he jogged off backwards. I remembered last week I had dropped my sketches and Mike had helped pick them up.

So everyday from that day, I stayed back after school. And Mike was right they loved it, I didn't know how creative I was. The people at the art gathering, they were lovely. The saw me for who I was on the inside, and with their help. A little by little I love myself a little more. My chubby cheeks, Steven said were cute. Angela loved my hair and braided it me for me whenever she could. My fat layers well, Stacy said it has a nice jiggle. But the best thing was, that Mike adored my freckles.

And that's the day my journey of self love began. With the help of my true friends, and a little bravery I never thought I could come so far. Now I walk to school with a smile on my face. Excited and enthusiastic. Stacy leaves me alone, I've seen her frown having no one to pick on. It seems people had seen what she had done that day and the word spread like wild fire. People were nicer to me now, my sense of humor has leveled up and if any one makes fun of my weight I know how to brush it off. My journey has been so much easier thanks to Mike and my true friends, to the people out there struggling with self esteem issues id like to say hold on, and I know one day you will know the power of radical self-love.