Worthless In Their Eyes, Perfect In His

I was surprised the cake hadn't fallen from my hand yet. Maybe it was because I had 'fat hands' that balanced it, or a better reason could be because I used almost my entire savings to buy it for my boyfriend and didn't want it to waste.

Adrian sat at the table with my sister, my mother was also there, and there was a blonde woman, slender and tall, seated on his lap. They continued talking, oblivious of the fact that I heard them.

"So, you're telling me that your fat girlfriend threw a birthday for you? Adrian baby, you told me you'd break up with the bitch already. You don't love me."

"Lily baby, I love you." Adrian called out cooingly. He even wrapped his hand around her tiny waist, while using the other to stroke her hair lovingly. An action he had never done with me. He always made excuses that physical touches weren't his love language. Here he was, not only touching her hair and waist, but she was placing her entire ass on his thighs.

Lily pouted her lips and spoke in a cringe voice that was way softer than the first, as though she was trying to sound like a baby.

"If you love me, you won't attend this trash birthday she's throwing for you. Look at the ugly balloons. I can do better for you."

The pain I felt in my heart became mixed with anger. Who exactly was she to call balloons I had bought with my last source of money ugly? The birthday decoration was minimalistic, and I had taken my time to design it myself.

I restrained myself from slamming the cake in her face yet. I stood by the corner, watching and listening to them. What I heard hurt me, but for some inexplicable reason, I wanted to hear more.

"That fat pig, she's always doing too much." Angela, my stepsister said, her voice heavy with mockery. "She's pathetic, and you deserve better. Let's just wait to eat her dumb cake."

Adrian laughed at the statement, the girl who he was cheating with laughed even louder.

He held her hand, caressing and squeezing it gently. "I assure you sweetheart, after eating her cake, I'd break up with her, even if it means ghosting her afterwards."

My mother, Claire was there in the living room, adding nothing to the conversation. Her face was buried in a magazine. I couldn't expect any defense from her. Since I was a child, she hated me more than anyone.

(Cough, Cough, Cough) She pushed out air from her lungs and finally raised her face from the magazine. Angela gave her a glass of water. After she regained her voice, she looked towards the door and hissed. "When is she going to arrive with the cake? Her body is probably too heavy for her to walk like a normal person." I could feel the venom in her voice, so condescending and hatred-filled.

They continued to discuss me among themselves. For a moment, I was glued to a spot, refusing to accept that Adrian hated me all the while. My family's hate was obvious, but his own never showed. I blinked my eyes, trying hard to resist sobbing, but my eyes even got more watery.

The betrayal made my head spin. I tried to calm myself, reaching for my wolf's comfort, but felt nothing. It was obvious that not only my family and boyfriend hated me.

I heard enough and couldn't take it anymore. I cleared my throat and walked into the living room, the cake was still intact in my hand. Lily stood up from Adrian's lap.

"Babe," Adrian called out as he walked towards me. His voice that was filled with mockery earlier was now covered with fake excitement. "This is my cousin." He referred to Lily, the girl who he was caressing earlier.

"Wow, the cake is beautiful. Brother, you're lucky to have a girl like her," Lily smiled and reached out to collect the cake from me.

Without thinking, I smashed the cake into her face.

"Do you all think I'm stupid. I heard everything!" I shouted, my voice laden with tears.

Lily, Adrian and the rest of them were obviously surprised.

"You could have broken up with me from the onset!" I continued to shout at him, grabbing his shirt. He threw my hand off him and leaned towards Lily, while cleaning the cake on her face. "Why would you do this? Do you hate me so much? Everything was a scam. What have you gained from doing all..."

"Just shut up!" Adrian flared up. His eyes began to take a scarlet hue. He was obviously angry. "You've found out I never loved you, and so? Take your cake and get out of here." He snatched the remaining cake left on the board and slammed it into my face. "Fat disgusting thing! What makes you think any man would want you?"

I felt too stunned to react. I thought he would start with an apology, but instead he was angry at me. I felt my knees grow weak, my vision was blurry. The pressure at which he used in slamming the cake into my face made my head throb.

"Adrian," I whispered, as tears rolled down my face. "You never...never...loved me." I stuttered, my voice wavered. I wiped the cake off my face, revealing my tear streaked face.

He didn't respond to me. He was too busy cleaning the stains off Lily's dress.

"Mum, I know you hate me, but wouldn't you say something. I spent everything on this birthday. You..." My voice trailed off and I broke into uncontrollable sobs. My half sister Angela sat on the couch, occupied with her phone as though she wasn't part of the ridicule.

"Good riddance to bad nonsense." My mother snapped at me. "He's better off without the risk of someone crushing him to death with her flappy skin."

"Take this." Adrian spat, stretching out a 100 dollar bill to me. "I never asked you to spend it on my birthday."

I was still broken and didn't collect the money. He squeezed it and threw it in my face. The paper made a light contact with my forehead before crumpling to the ground.

With his hand wrapped around Lily's waist, they walked towards the door.

I should have given up already, seeing that Adrian wanted nothing to do with me, but that skinny bitch, I had to teach her a lesson. I grabbed Lily's hair from behind, pulling it strongly, until she screamed, trying hard to push me off.

We fell to the floor and in an instant, Adrian slapped me hard across the face. He grabbed me by the neck, and flung me till I hit my back on the wall.

I collapsed to the floor, trying hard to catch my breath.

"It's over between us, and don't ever try harming my girlfriend. You need a fat reduction surgery and not love."

Without another word, he left the house. I was too weak, and in pain to bother going after them a second time.

I sprawled helplessly on the floor, my gaze going over my mother and sister who acted like they didn't see me. They didn't even bother to help. I tasted blood at the corner of my lip, the aftermath of the slap. I couldn't heal because my wolf had abandoned me a long time ago.

My body grew weaker, and everything seemed to grow blurry and dark. I wished that the darkness would take me. I didn't want to continue with life.

When I opened my eyes, it was pitch black. I wondered if the darkness finally took me, and I was out of existence.

The sound of water dripping from the kitchen tap brought me back to the realization that I was still at home. I stood up from the floor, staggering till I reached the light switch and turned it on.

Good lord. I had stayed at the same place where I collapsed earlier, without anyone offering a helping hand.

I headed to my room, my legs were heavy as I dragged myself up the stairs. It was a few minutes past midnight, I contemplated calling my best friend, Sandra and telling her what happened, but later changed my mind. I could still do that tomorrow.

I reached for a cotton wool and dabbed it in ointment. The wound was still evident on my face.

"Joey." I hissed in an infuriated manner. "Wouldn't you at least help me heal?"

I got no response. Joey was my wolf. Since I got her, she was more like a toxic roommate living in my body.

"You're the one with the wounded body, not me." She responded in a scornful manner. Never in my life would I have imagined that someone could have a quarrel with their wolf.

"Fine! Don't help me." I said in annoyance.

"I won't." She snapped and went back into her corner, where I couldn't feel her.

Joey hated me, because according to her, she couldn't cope with a fat body. She always whined and complained of how she was meant to be with an owner whose body reflected her strengths. She never stopped cursing the day she became my wolf.

I let out a desolate sigh and climbed into bed. I was a size 18 and was barely 5ft. I never bothered knowing my exact height, because everything about my body made me angry. I also hated myself. Born into a werewolf city where I didn't fit any of the beauty standards always made me feel like I didn't belong.

After trying to push away the pain of my dramatic breakup with Adrian, I fell into a deep sleep.

THE NEXT MORNING

The sound of my alarm clock jolted me out of sleep. I grunted in annoyance. I felt like I needed a full day of sleep after yesterday's event.

After putting the curtain in place to allow the faint sunlight to slip into the room, I reached for my laptop. The device made its usual squeaky sound as I opened it. Parts of its metallic coating were rusted and the display screen had black color which blocked the upper view.

I kissed my teeth in annoyance as I waited for it to boot. It took almost an hour to switch on, after all, I had gotten it from a yard sale.

I rushed to my emails, eager to see if the college grants I applied for had been approved.

"Rejected."

"Not approved."

"Sorry to announce..."

"Unfortunately..."

Those were the subjects I read as soon as I opened my email box. I went through each of the emails. I had applied for different college grants and scholarships, and each of them were rejected.

"Oh goddess," I sighed, wondering if my dreams of going to college would ever be possible. My mother cared less about me, instead, she gave all her attention to my stepsister, Angela. My stepfather had the money, but anytime I asked, he would give me conditions. I never got to know my father, my mother said that he left. All I had of him was a tiny photograph. I wondered if he would have treated me the same way the rest of the family treated me. I also wondered if it was possible to reconnect with him.

Left with no choice, I had to face Christian, my stepfather and try to ask him for college funding. If he turns me down this time, then there's no more hope for me.

I wore a long sleeved dress and headed out. Even when no one was looking, I felt like they were watching me. I pulled my sleeves, and fidgeted with the hem of my dress a couple of times.

I headed to my stepfather's office. As the secretary saw me, she did her regular eye rolling, and the way she looked at me with contempt, I could tell that she didn't like me. I waited at her desk for a long time, and she kept clipping papers, adjusting staplers and doing unnecessary things.

"I'm here to see my father." I repeated a second time.

"You mean your stepfather. Wait, I want to make sure there's enough space in the room." She dragged out the word 'space'. I knew what she was doing, but I kept my cool.

"You can go in." She finally said.

I walked inside Christian's office, trying to bury the behaviour of the secretary. She had seen my mother treat me like trash anytime I came here, and she copied it.

He was on a call, and once he saw me, he dropped the phone.

"Dad, I...You've not said anything about my college fees."

He furrowed his brows, allowing wrinkles to form on his forehead.

"I said something, but you refused to listen."

I swallowed hard, knowing exactly where the conversation was leading.

"I can't do that. You're my stepfather. I have dreams of going to college, you have to help me." My eyes were stinging, threatening to become watery. He was my last resort.

He chuckled and rubbed his salt and pepper hair. "I also have dreams of sleeping with you." He stood up from his chair and walked towards me, placing his hand on my thigh. I took a few steps backwards, causing his hand to fall off.

"This isn't right."

"You're being stubborn. Just do this and I'd sponsor you through college." He said, while licking his lips in the most disgusting manner. "I know others think you're fat, but I think you're more than enough to warm my bed."

"Stop saying nonsense." I snapped in a disgusted manner. "Infact, forget it." I faced the door, ready to leave.

Before I could reach the doorknob, I felt his hand grab me roughly by the waist. He forced a kiss down my lips.

I bit into his lips, causing him to jerk his mouth away.

"What's wrong with you?" I shouted, too stunned that he could put up such an act. "Get your hands off me," I tried hard to pull his hairy hands, but he only tightened his grip.

He covered my mouth and dragged me towards the table, flinging me on top of the table. My screams were muffled to nothing by his hand over my mouth.

"Joey," I screamed inwardly. "Bring out your claws, just help me this one time." My wolf didn't respond.

I was forced to use my human strength. There was an empty glass of wine on the table. As he gripped my dress, I grabbed the bottle and smashed it into his head. He let go of me, gripping his head with his hand. I hit him again, this time in his eyes. Some shards got into it and he screamed.

Did I really just do that? I reflected on my actions at the gory site of blood on his face.

He tried to go after me, but I used the period when his eye was shut to run away from the room.

The secretary looked at me with confusion, I didn't spare her a glance, and I ran as far as my legs could carry me.

I didn't even notice when I ran into the road and a car came speeding in my direction.

I froze as I stood in the middle of the road. The car stopped just a few inches away from my knees.

"Do you want to get killed?" A man shouted as he came out of the car. "Who runs into the middle of the road?"

I steadied myself and crossed over to the pedestrian path. Adrenaline was still surging through me. I tried hard to steady my raging heartbeat as I found a seat by the bus stop.

How could he even think of forcing himself on me? I had to tell my mother about this as soon as I returned home. I doubted if she would believe me, but I had to let her know the dog that she got married to.

My dreams of college were buried in the mud, and it was only a miracle that could help me right now.

I worked in a coffee shop and recently I resigned due to the small pay. I had to start looking for a new job if I ever wanted to achieve my college goals, but I would end up saving for ages before I get a semester's fees.

An hour passed since I remained on that bench. I was occupied with a lot of thoughts to even notice. I finally went home. I had to expose my stepfather. That sleazy fool.

As I opened the door, I met my mother in the living room. She looked at me as though she was expecting me. My eyes drifted to the corner. There was a box of my clothes standing there.

"Mom, you wouldn't believe what your husband did. He..." My voice trailed off as she cut me short.

"He told me everything, and don't ever call me mom. I regret the day I cried you in my womb" Claire raised her voice, throwing a coffee mug in my direction. I ducked, missing the mug by an inch as it flew over my head.

"He already told you?" I asked in a shocked manner.

"Take your things and get out of my house. I can't have you seducing my husband."

"What? Seducing? Me?" I stuttered, still trying to process her statement. "He's the one who tried raping me."

Angela was already bringing more of my belongings from my room. All of them were dumped on the floor.

"You're shameless." She said and spat in my face, like literally spat in my face.

"Mom, I promise you your husband is lying. He's the one who forced himself on me. I managed to fight him off." I was already beginning to break down with tears.

"Get out of my sight." Mother shouted one more time. Her claws and canines began to get visible, proving that she was extremely angry.

Angela grabbed me roughly, pushing me out through the door. I didn't try to fight with her. When I was finally outside, she threw my bags at me, then slammed the door in my face.

I blinked my eyes repeatedly and hot tears flowed freely down my face. Why didn't I just die at birth? I had nowhere to go. I hated myself, my body and the life that was chosen for me.

I gathered all the items that were thrown at me. My laptop was there, and the only picture I had of my dad was also there. Maybe one day, I would find him and he would treat me better than my mom did.

I dragged the bag with me, heading to the only place I knew I could get help. As I walked out of our house, I saw my stepfather's car from afar. His gaze lingered at me for a moment before I looked away. There was no need to confront him. Maybe I was even safer leaving his house.

Sandra answered the door as soon as I knocked. I came all the way to her place as I didn't know anywhere else to go.

"What happened?" She asked as she looked at my big bags. I crashed into her arms for an embrace, and began a fresh round of shedding tears.

"They kicked me out. Christian tried to rape me, and my mom threw me out." I stuttered, my voice clouded with tears.

"That bastard," Sandra hissed. She ushered me into the house. It was just a small apartment.

"I really don't want to discomfort you, but I don't have anywhere to go."

"You can stay for as long as you wish. I really don't mind." Sandra tried to comfort me.

I bawled my eyes out till they became crimson red.

"Let me make tea for you. It would calm your nerves." Sandra said and left for the kitchen.

There was a knife on the table, close to where I sat on the couch.

"I'd just cut off this excess skin," I sobbed, drawing the knife closer to me. "I hate my body." If I carved away the excess flesh, maybe Joey would finally stop hating me. Maybe mom would smile at me for once, and Adrian may come back.

"Trust me, your body isn't the reason your family hates you. Those people are just idiots." Sandra returned and placed a mug containing hot brewing tea in front of me.

"If only I was slimmer," I muttered before sipping the tea.

"What of Adrian? Have you told him about this?"

I paused midway, and dropped the cup on the table. Sandra wasn't informed about our breakup.

"We ended things."

Sandra's eyes widened, obviously shocked by the news. "But things were going on well between both of you."

I shook my head and took a deep breath, then proceeded to tell her everything that happened on his birthday, leaving no details out of it.

"Men are jerks." Sandra retorted. "That's why I'm single."

My phone chimed. There was one new email and for the first time since the week began, I smiled. Something had finally gone right.