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One

Lila

I’ to the winter wind howl against myI have no idea what day it is and frankly, I don’t care I don’t see lately Since Trey used , then dumped me, I’ve been in a total funk It’s not just the fact that he dumped me, but it’s how he did it that really hurt

We work together at New Stylein the US I’ I fix other people’s typos for a living while I wait for a chance to be a real journalist, and Trey got hired six rapher’s assistant I’eous that he could be in the ads didn’t hurt his chances at the interview

After all, it takes a lot of confidence to ith supermodels all day, and Trey has confidence in spades Unlike me, who they keep tucked in the back corner of the bullpen with all the other mortals That’s e call ourselves There arehips and my round, soft face, I’m definitely a mortal

I should have known better than to try for Trey I really, really should have People like him aren’t meant to be with people like me He’s one of the beautiful people—tall, handsome, well-built and very confident But, he seeht that if he could like me then maybe, just maybe, I could be one of the special people

We dated for over six weeks before I finally let lasses of red wine to feel cohts off ‘tolasted about four ot up out of his bed, pulled his jeans back on and said, “You should probably go”

I couldn’t comprehend his words “What?”

Trey sighed “Listen I should never have let things get this far I’ht for each other”

I can still feel that dizziness—the way the world was spinning out of control as my heart sunk intoI had been battling with for as long as I can recall I’ve never been what you’d call a srade school, a fact that none of the other kids let rew up but the truth is, the world will never change

My biggest azine I should have known I’d never fit in there Curvy girls aren't exactly welcome in this industry, even if they're nowhere near the business end of a ca the butt of plus-sized jokes, so when Trey suddenly showed an interest, I fell for him, hook, line and sinker

“Why did you ask me out if you didn’t like me?”

“I don’t know I read soirls ust on his face will forever be etched in irl and all, but you didn’t really think someone like me would ever end up with someone like you, did you?”

Those were the words that crushed me I picked up my clothes, too broken to slap him on his chiseled face or to call hi, but walk out of his apartment in tears

Now, as I drag my butt out of bed, I try to erase my memory of him so I can face another day at work The subway is crowded as it is every h heels and real New Yorkers who belong in Manhattan I grew up in a suburb of Chicago, somewhere sh fashion was a buy-one-get-one-half-off sale at the Burlington Coat Factory

An icy wind greets me as I make my way up the last few steps to the sidewalk from the tunnel I putto keep my face warm When I arrive at the office, I peel off my winter coat and wool hat on my way to the elevator My heart sinks s to indicate we’re alet there, I walk straight toto text someone so I can avoid eye contact with h it was three weeks ago andet hot with e

I get through thetofor any openings for writers or editors at another ain today, of cou

rse An ad for a last-minute deal to St Lucia catches my eye

Escape today to paradise for only 299

Without thinking about it, I click on the ad

I have a week of vacation time that I haven’t taken and I rab my cell out of et a week off?”

Two