Heavy Load

HEAVY LOAD

“Fat, ugly cow,” Rachel screeched. “No wonder everyone hates you.”

         “Look who’s talking.” Accusing, tormented eyes penetrated her own. She wanted to turn away, avert her gaze from the obese monster, but knew there was no escape.

         “You’re repulsive, obscene, sickening,” Rachel spat at her enemy, specks of saliva settling on the bloated cheeks, the drooping jowls, the countless wobbly chins. “Why don’t you lose some weight? You don’t even try. No one will ever like you while you’re so disgusting. God, you look fifty, not fifteen.”

         Bile attacked Rachel’s gullet; the vision of flabby thighs, protruding belly and grotesque breasts making her feel physically sick. Was there anyone in the world as enormous or hideous as the revolting specimen in front of her?

         “You’re to eat nothing today do you hear me? And you run and keep on running until you’ve burnt every calorie from yesterday.”

         Rachel turned away from her reflection in disgust, bracing herself before stepping onto the bathroom scales.

         “Five stone seven. That’s a pound more than yesterday. I hate being fat, I hate being weak, I hate myself.”

         “Rachel.” Her mother’s voice drifted up the stairs. “Come and eat some breakfast.”

         “I don’t want any.”

         “Don’t start that again, madam. You know what will happen; you’ll end up back in that clinic.”

         Rachel stepped off the scales, turned her back on the mirror and reached for the razor lying on the sink.