Fat Ugly Lies

Chapter 13

My mother popped into the front room and greeted you with a huge grin on her face.
Her genuine smile made my fake one look pathetic and awkward.
But that was ok.

You two have met?
My brother asks.
Also coming in.
He is looking particularly dapper in his freshly pressed shirt and black skinny jeans.

You and I nod,
In perfect synchronisation,
It was quite a frightening experience.
To have shared the same action as you at the same time.
As if, for that split second our brains had shared the same thought,
The same command.

It made me feel horrid inside.
To think someone as terrible as you,
Can actually be like me.
Do something like me.
It made me feel as if perhaps,
If fate had played its cards differently,
I could be you and you could be me.

All from a simple gesture no one would really care about,
I began questioning my life's meaning.

Brother came over and stood beside you.

He draped an arm around your neck,
Spontaneously, you pulled a disgusted face.
It lasted less than a second as you realised it had happened,
And you shook your head and smiled "sweetly",
Leaning your head against his hand.

No one else had picked it up,
But I had,
I saw it.
And I knew that I would have to keep an eye on you at all times.
You weren't any good for my brother.

But I wouldn't be the one to tell him that.