The "You're Not Fat" Campaign

Mom and Dad look at each other, then take a collective breath.

"CanIbeexcused" I mutter.

"No," they say at the same time, their eyes hard. I shrink who are you kidding you can't shrink you fatass fatass fatsass into my chair and knot my hands together and look down at my intertwined fingers. They are laced together, white-knuckled, and screaming with sadness.

"Laura, is everything okay?" Dad asks.

No. Yes. No, nothing is okay. Everything is fine.

I am sick I am healthy I can't sleep I'm sleeping fine I'm so hungry it hurts I'm not hungry at all I want to die I want to die.

"I'm..."

I'm not okay I'm not fine no no no.

FINE FINE FINE YOU'RE FINE YOU'RE FINE

"I'm fine."