Jessa

The worst part wasn’t Noah’s comment itself.

It was that he said it in front of everyone.

The words—“Don’t want your thick thighs getting stuck”—still echoed in my head like a chant I couldn’t shut off. They followed me into the cafeteria the next day, clinging to me like smoke I couldn’t wash off.

I kept my head down, tray balanced in my hands, pretending I didn’t hear the laughter that had bubbled up after he said it. Pretending it didn’t sting. Pretending I ...