A Female Of Natural Beauty

A Bright Smile

Ellen had to blink away her tears as she gazed down at the photo of herself displayed on her phone.

She looked... beautiful. She never considered herself as such. When comparing herself to Juno or Sheila or Els, she always saw her own beauty as bland, as nothing worth admiring. But here in this photo, with the fantastic lighting that perfectly outlined her figure, her breasts, and her long, black mane, she indeed looked beautiful.

It made her feel beautiful.

A sob broke from Ellen's chest, and she quickly glanced around the school's courtyard, making sure no one had seen. And no one had. Her gaze returned to the photo, her expression one of solemn. All her life, she'd been downed, bullied by females she'd once considered her close friends and cast aside by her own family members. And it hardened her, that neglect and abuse she'd experienced as a child. It made her look down on herself as a person and as a female. But since joining Cherryton High, she'd been able to make friends who'd support her and tell her over and over again how beautiful she was.

She'd smile and thank them for their compliments, but she never believed them. No. She refused to believe them for fear of being torn down for her confidence.

But not anymore.

Maybe it was because of the months she'd spent away from the toxicity of her family, or the many compliments she'd received from her friends, or the confidence she'd gained from looking at the photo, but Ellen found herself not caring what others thought of her anymore. She felt beautiful, she was beautiful, and she was never going to let anyone take that away from her again. 

Juno, Sheila, Els, thank you for encouraging me. Thank you for being my friends.

A bright smile spreading on her lips, Ellen stood up from the bench and walked with her chin a little higher.