It was a wonderful day, the sun was not too bright and the wind was not too strong. It was the perfect tempurature for walking around an outdoor mall. She enjoyed herself here, just her and her mother. The hour long drive was well worth it.

The drive there was filled with conversation and singing to the radio, a great classic rock station that seemed to only play good music. Even a song she had been yearning to hear for many, many months. When they arived at their destination, it was nothing like she expected.

This mall was enormous! And every store's doors were to the outside. An outdoor mall. They entered the store they had originally come for, Maurice's. Her favorite store, she always found something she liked there.

After much time, she finally had a few things she wanted to try on, including a pair of pants she didn't really like, but mother's will was mother's will. It came down to two shirts. A plain green, and a brown with a blue and gold graphic on the chest. Along with some jewelry, a necklace and feather ear rings.





What was next? There were so many stores to choose from! They entered a few stores that she didn't really like, Banana Republic, for example. It was all too adult for her. She was only 16, she didn't need to be dressing like she was 22.

The two came across a Journey's, and just for laughs, went inside. A man with dyed-red hair sat on a bench in the middle of the store, watching the two TVs above the counter. Shirts and shoes were everywhere, the other people mostly looking at the shoes. Her mother and she looked at all the shirts that were there, and saw one that caught her attention. A silly T-shirt that seemed to appeal to her tree-hugging nature, while at the same time looking like something a normal person would wear.



More stores that didn't appeal to her, but then they came to an H&M. She was thoroughly convinced she wouldn't like the store, but a little ways in, she found the perfect shirt. After a little more exploring, another cool shirt. She was too excited to try these on. They came to the fitting rooms, taking a number and going down the hall.

The first one fit like a glove, which was good, because it was as small as they come. She was too happy.



The next was far too small. Her mother went out for a few minutes to fetch her a larger size. All the while, she looked at herself in the mirror. Ew. Just ew. She didn't like how she looked at all. She was too fat for her liking, and her hair was a mess. She wasn't looking her best today. But soon, her mother came back with a larger size, and she tried it on. Perfect fit.



After a stop to the ice cream shop, they got into the car and drove back home. Well, not directly home, they stopped over to Red Lobster for supper. This was supposed to be the middle part to their day, their girl's day out. The day to make her forget that she was never asked to Banquet. Make her forget her bitterness, if only for one day.

The Red Lobster, and a short wait. The boy at the door seemed cute, but after a few looks, they discovered that he had a unibrow. What a turn off...

The food was wonderful. Her mother got two crabcakes and a bowl of clam chowder, while she had a plate of shrimp alfredo. She couldn't finish it. Not because she was full. Because it was acting up again.

Her mother hastily finished her food, requested a to-go box, and payed the bill in cash. She cringed in the utterly crushing pain. She could never handle that type of food. She didn't know how this was linked to food, it wasn't even linked to her stomach. But it always happened.

The drive home, and she was left with no energy. A sobbing apology came from her, she felt as if she had ruined the whole evening. Her mother just put her hand on her arm, calming her down, and telling her it was alright. It wasn't like this had happened when they just got to the mall. It was late in the evening, they were both tired. The movie would just have to wait for another day.

They came home. She wobbled out of the car, carrying the extra food. She opened the door, closed it, kicked off her shoes, and climbed the stairs. She walked into the kitchen, put the food on the counter. She took her phone out of her pocket, put it on the counter.

She walked into the bathroom, closing the door behind her. She started taking her clothes off, but a quick look in the mirror reminded her of the necklace she was wearing. She took it off before continuing, then freed herself of everything else holding her back. She walked over to the tub, fishing her nephew's toys out, then turning the water on.

She stepped in, instantly relieved by the warm stream of soothing liquid. She washed her hair, washed her body. She finally turned around and moved to sit down. Her sore, aching legs that has suffered the day before cringed under the strain. But soon, her body could finally rest in the paradisial shower of hot, steamy water. Everything had a glow to it, the slight hum of the fan in background, the deafening pounding of water droplets. There was nothing in her mind. Only peace.

But she soon noticed how fast her heart was beating. She stood, turning the temperature down. She soaked her overheated body in the cooler water, it felt nice. She turned the water off. She stepped out, grabbed her towel, and went to her room.

She slumped onto the computer chair, swivelling over to the monitor before her. She opened up the internet, going to one of the few websites where she could be free. She wondered whether to lie to keep her friend's from concern, or to tell the truth. She decided. She would write about her reality. She put her shaky hands to the lettered buttons, and started pressing her words into the box.

"It was a wonderful day, the sun was not too bright and the wind was not too strong. It was the perfect tempurature for walking around an outdoor mall. She enjoyed herself here, just her and her mother. The hour long drive was well worth it."