Cassandra
Fat ass. Short ass. Miss Piggy. Ugly piece of lard. Fat piece of shit. Oompa Loompa.These are only some of the names my peers would call me at school. Though now homeschooled, even the distance from my tormentors wasn't enough to ease all of the damage. While leaving was some relief, the memory of how I was treated also left with me like mental scars.I hate that place. I hated it so much that I nearly made Tarra late every morning as I dragged my feet every step. Up to the point before I left, I'm surprised she didn't place Dad's cuffs around my wrists to force my ass there. But she knows why I hate it. The constant bullying, the ear-deafening cackles, skinny bitches, and asshole guys are everyday torture that I succumbed to.My weakness, my attachment to the hateful comments and treatment, is what brought me here, to Loraine's office. Last night, Tarra and Dad dropped the bomb on me thaCassandraThe last time I sat in a therapist's lobby for the first time, I was full of disbelief, destruction, doubt, and anger. My father brought me to Dr. Loraine, so I felt forced, trapped almost. Now, I see how therapy truly works if you open yourself up to it.One year since my last therapy session with Loraine, I sit in another therapist's lobby office. While again I am here not out of personal choice, my perspective is to just finish this so that I can go back on duty."Cassandra Porsse?" I rise from the chair I had been sitting in for almost twenty minutes when a tall woman calls me."That's me," I admit nervously.With a small, genuine smile, the woman tucks a piece of her toffee blonde hair that fell from her messy bun behind her ear and extends her hand. Her clothes are sleek and professional. A huge contrast to the colorful Lorraine, she wears a black conservative two-piece suit. The skirt is knee-
CassandraHave you ever been so publicly humiliated and embarrassed, that you wish you could crawl under your bed and hide?Well, me too, but there's no way my fat ass would fit under the bed. Or, at least, that's what the entire student body likes to inform me. Let me catch you up on what I mean by going back six hours before I met a new revelation that changed my entire life.Six hours earlier..."Is that what you're wearing to school?" My older sister Tarra asks me as I step into the kitchen.I look down at my outfit choice. My eyes take in my cream-colored, loose-fitting sweatshirt, baby blue sweatpants, and tennis shoes. To my dismay, this is about the only type of clothing that I have left that fits me. I slouch my shoulders and lower my head as I take a seat at the breakfast table, grabbing the box of frosted flakes and pouring them into my cereal bowl."Tarra, leave your sister a
CassandraSeven years later..."Tarra, we have to go!" I yell, knocking on the door of our shared bathroom.I hear the click of the lock and Tarra opens the door. "Alright, alright. I'm ready, let's go." She says with a big grin, her right hand resting on her hip while her left-hand grasps the doorknob.She steps out of the bathroom in a cute, white, patterned chiffon dress that rests just at her mid-thigh, brown wedges, a brown belt around her tiny waist, and a denim jacket to complete the look. Her hair falls to the middle of her back in loose waves."How do I look?" She asks me, a small smile pulls at her lips as she spins on her heel.We finally start to leave and I grab my keys from the key rack that hangs just to the right of our front door to our apartment.
CassandraI dig my hands into the pockets of my gray sweatpants, anxiously waiting to be called on. I keep my head down and dig my heel into the damp dirt, marking my white sneakers. The obnoxious sing-song voices of my peers and the loud noise emitting from Mr. Ronaldo's whistle is all I can hear in this entire damn field.Why soccer? Can't we do something else for physical education?"Cassandra!" Crayvin calls out with a raucous voice. His brows furrow when I look up and make eye contact. The eyes I used to admire are cold and calculating as a slight close-lipped smile grows on his face. I cringe at the smugness that radiates from the condescending douche.Fidgeting with my short fingers against the inside material of my sweatpants, I shift glances around the field, and my eyes widen when I realize why he called my name. Everyone was chosen for teams and I, like always, am the last pick of the crop.
CassandraEvery morning of mine is the same. I wake up at 5:00, workout, drink coffee, shower, eat a light breakfast, and then begin my day.Today is an exception.I extend my arm out, turning off my alarm at exactly 5:00. The bright red numbers blink on the clock and remind me that today is Monday. And not just any Monday, today is my first day of work. I get out of my soft, queen-sized bed and open the blinds. The sunlight brings warmth into my room and shines onto my thin blue line American flag comforter and matching pillows. The light immediately brightens my small room with gray walls and a white border frame. Besides the one picture that adorns my wall, my wall is a blank canvas. I have never really liked photos because of my past and I would rather not have a daily reminder plastered on my wall that I was once overweight.I walk to the right side of the bed and look up at the one picture hanging on
CassandraMy entire body shakes as soon as his eyes meet mine, making my skin crawl. Standing still, my feet were frozen to the floor as his palm touches mine and he shakes it. The warmth of his hand suddenly thaws my frozen body and I swallow the dry lump that has formed in my throat."It's nice to meet you, Cassandra. Welcome to the team." I hear him say, my mouth agape with incredulity.Nice to meet you? Wait...he doesn't remember who I am, does he?I run my tongue against my suddenly dry lips, clear my throat, and close my mouth before I speak."Uh, yeah, you too," I gripe, my eyes narrowing on the monster before me.How can he be a police officer? We're meant to protect others from evil, not be evil and disguise ourselves as good."Cassandra, you are good to go for today. You'll start your regular shift with Crayvin tomorrow." Chief's voice snaps
Cassandra"I can't believe that this is really happening, Tarra. I'm officially starting high school today!" I exclaim as I unbuckle my seat belt and get out of my sister's small car. I may be small, but I like bigger vehicles. One day, when I'm allowed to drive, I plan on getting a truck of some sort.Tarra's hazel eyes glimmer as she observes the school, exhaling nervously and pulling her books tighter to her chest. "I can't believe it's officially my first, last day."I watch as my sister stands still, taking it all in. I know she's just as nervous as I am. Tarra turns her head so that our eyes meet."Ready, Sis?" She asks, her tone containing more confidence now. There's my sister. She's normally the confident one, whereas I'm the nervous, scared shitless of my own shadow type. I nod my head and walk by her side as we enter the rather large building.
CrayvinMornings like today are the ones that I appreciate the most. The traffic is flowing smoothly, no domestic violence calls, no dead bodies. Just the sweet silence that fills the unit...Slurp! Slurp!I exhale as I look over at the bane of my existence, my partner. Her eyes meet mine and I glare at the raven-haired woman as she rolls her doe eyes. I rub my temples and rest my forehead to the steering wheel.Slurp...slurrrp!"What the hell are you drinking over there? Or should I say trying to drink," I huff.Fuck, she annoys me.Cassandra lifts her perfect arched brow, her eyes glinting at me. She makes me feel so small when she looks at me like that. I hate it."It's my morning shake," she states."What's in the shake?" I ask, not sure why I even want to know or ask for that matter.She shrugs her