Woken up by agitated voices, I sat up in my bed. My belly, while a lot smaller than it was when I went to sleep, still filled up my lap. I was gaining weight at an alarming, impossible pace and I wasn't sure whether to be delighted, or frightened. Then I heard the voices again and they were familiar, bringing back bad memories and a sense of déjà vu. "She's here, isn't she?! Let me see her!" My mom's high-pitched voice came through a bit muffled, yet still clearly recognizable by the intensity it always tended to have when addressing my dad.
"She's asleep." Dad replied, in a much calmer manner.
"Let me see her!" My mom shouted again.
"No." Dad said in a tone that left no room for debate. I never heard him speak like that! My dad was always 'soft', backing down just to avoid conflict. "Go home." He told my mom. "She'll come to you when she's ready to see you."
My mother became silent, obviously taken aback as much as I was, but that was when Kurt stepped in. "We're not going anywhere!" He bellowed and then it all got complicated when my dad lost his cool and the shouting match began.
I didn't want to get involved. Why can't they just go away? I thought, covering my ears. I looked at the blue-haired figure that slept peacefully next to me, wondering how she could still sleep in this noise. I let out a sigh. I couldn't bear to hear them fight anymore and so I decided to step in. It was a dumb move, especially since I was only in my underwear, which I realized far too late.
The room went silent as I stepped in with my gut bulging in front of me. The silence, as pleasant as it was, was short lived.
My mother glanced at me, taking in my huge belly and turned back to my dad.
"And you support this?!" She shouted. "Look what she's doing to herself!"
I blushed and glanced at my toes in shame. Or rather I tried to glance at my toes, but they were obviously blocked by my bloated belly. It only made me feel worse about myself. To avoid looking at the source of my shame, I raised my head again and looked around the room, scanning everyone's face. Dad looked compassionate, sorry about the hurt I felt and sad I had to hear all that. Mother was bewildered, red in the face with anger. I'd never seen her so furious. Kurt stood next to her with a smug grin on his stupid face. I rolled my hands into fists, my shame replaced with anger. I felt the emotions I've been bottling up inside from back when my parents were going through divorce, rising and overwhelming my being, until they erupted like a volcano and I started shouting. "Why the fuck can't you just accept me for who I am?!" I yelled, stomping towards them. "So I'm fat! And I love eating! And it makes me happy! Is it so much to ask for to let me be happy?! Just because you're miserable with this coward who insults me every time you turn away doesn't mean I should be too!" Tears were streaming down my face by this point. Beside myself with fury and with my vision blurred I misjudged just how far my gut stuck in front of me and I bumped into my mother, making her take a step back. Just as quickly as my emotions built up, they now dissipated, leaving me broken and exhausted. "If you can't live with who I am then I won't force you." I said, my voice only a little more than a whisper by now. "I'll move out. Just please leave me alone." I turned around on the spot, ignoring whatever anyone had to say as I walked back into my room.
I pushed the door shut behind me, locking it, just to put up this thin barrier between me and my family. It wasn't as easy as one would think, because I couldn't stop my hands from shaking. I heard the click and stumbled towards the bed, weak in my knees. Becca was fully awake by now, sitting on the edge of the bed, topless. I barely noticed it, which I think speaks volumes about the state I was in.
Becca opened her mouth, no doubt wanting to ask whether I was alright, but I wouldn't let her.
"No, I'm not." I breathed out. "I-" My voice broke and I started bawling my eyes out. Becca jumped to her feet and embraced me with all her strength. She gently led me to the bed and laid me down, placing my head to rest on her bosom. As magical as Becca's breasts were, they couldn't stop the two rivers flowing from my eyes.