Corpulent || N. Horan

One

Maleah

Why me? Why does it have to be me? I think of what the possibilities might be, but they just don't add up. Does the Universe hate me? Does God hate me? I have no clue. Why me?

These are the thoughts that consume my mind every morning as I look at myself in the mirror. I'm pretty sure I have an okay face that would catch one guy's attention, but once their eyes reach the rest of my body, they are gone like the wind.

I'm Maleah Valentina Russetto. Too Italian, right? Anyway, I'm eighteen years old. My hometown is in Italy, but I moved to California when I was two. About yay high (5'7), but the weight is my problem. I weigh 152 pounds.

The average girl at my school weighs 110. I'm not saying I get bullied, because I don't. It's just I'm ignored, and that really sets me off. Every time I go out in public, I stick my stomach in to make me look smaller.

Sure, I have a couple of friends I hang out with over the weekend, but other than that, I have no one.

I guess it was wrong of me to try and cut down on some of my eating habits, because that just ended me up in health group sessions.

It was basically useless considering the counselor barely took any notice in any of the patients when we got together. I didn't really mind. It was just more free time for me to hate myself even more.

" Maleah! Come down now! You will be late for school!" My mama shouted from outside of my room. " I'm coming." I holler as I give myself one last glare before exiting out of my room.

I smell my mama's famous crepes cooking as I walk into the kitchen. I say hello to my two younger siblings, Rosalie and Marciello and greet my parents by giving them a kiss on the cheek.

" What took you so long, Maleah?" My papa questioned.

" I was just tidying up my room." I use this lie or 'fixing my hair' as my excuse every time they ask me that question so they don't know I'm still insecure about my body. But I am.

" Well hurry up and eat. It's papa's turn to take you to school and he has to be early."

I grimace and nodded while sitting down next to Rose. I look at her, then at her body. Although she is only eight, I already know she will be one of the beauty girls at school.

Ignoring my thoughts, I scarf down what's left of my food, since Marciello ate half of mine, and I scurry off to the garage. Not before giving mama a proper goodbye.

As I wait for papa in his car, I take my book out, The Fallen Star, and read the pages I have already read countless numbers of times. I'm too focused to even notice papa coming in and driving me to school.

I say thank you and abandon the car. Papa drives away immediately, and I am left alone again. Sighing, my feet pace slowly towards Lake Ridge High and into the pits of hell.

My usual routine kicks in with me greeting the teachers that walk past by me. Once I reach the end of the hallway, I turn left to find my locker to be the last on the top. Entering my combination, I grab all first four period books since they are on the other side of school and right next to each other.

Surrounding me is all laughter, talking, texting, and then there is me. Although it doesn't hurt as much as it used to, it still does hurt.

I shut my locker and walk to my first class, Algebra. I immediately go to the unoccupied seat that is always vacant when I walk in. Barely anyone has arrived so I reach for my book and start to read where I left off.

Minutes pass by before I hear voices coming into the room and echoing all around, yet it's a different accent. Looking up, I observe Ms. Delaney conversing with a boy my age. His blonde tips accenting his brunette roots and his Irish accent, clearly noticeable. While he talked, every ten seconds he would push his glasses up his nose and smiled. The unknown boy was as thin as a stick, yet he had little muscles forming around his arms. He will fit perfectly with them.