"You have to choose."
"I can't."
Maritza Navarro is a normal teenage girl. But she was never treated like one. She struggles with her weight and her mental health. She's never been in a relationship and never thought a person could love her. Let alo...
I used to feel so confident in my skin. Yeah I'm a big girl but I'm beautiful. My mami calls me vein, always looking in the mirror. But maybe it's not confidence and I'm just overcompensating.
Whenever I feel truly beautiful, someone from school shuts it down.
There's always someone who has something to say about my weight. Even when I'm just minding my own business.
Highschool is like a big popularity contest. Who's the prettiest? Who's the skinniest?
I can tell you I've never made the list.
So I'm really in no rush to get up and go.
"Maritza!" She calls out again.
"Ugh!" I grunt and force myself out of bed.
I walk into the bathroom and turn on the shower. I take off my clothes and stare at myself in the mirror.
I run my fingers over my stretch marks. Squeeze my stomach fat. Grip my thighs.
I do it every time I shower.
It's like a ritual.
After I shower I quickly get dressed and put on some natural makeup.
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I look at my outfit in the mirror and smile.
I've always been pretty, I dress well. But all people see is my weight.
I give myself one last look before going downstairs.
"Gracias a dios! I was about to come drag you out of bed!" My abuela says as she hands me a plate.
"You better eat quick. You took long enough. I gotta get to work." My mom chimes in.
"I'm not really hungry." I say grabbing my bag.
"You have to eat something mi vida." My abuela says as my mom grabs her keys.
"Fine." I grab a banana and follow my mom out the door.
