BREAKING POINT

For the first time since Queen started her weight-loss journey, James decided to accompany her to the gym.

At first, she thought he was being supportive.She should have known better.

 The entire drive there, he talked about calories, body fat, and discipline.

By the time they arrived, her headache had already started.The gym was busy that morning.

People filled the treadmills and weight stations. Queen immediately became self-conscious.

She hated crowded gyms. She hated being judged by people at the gym.

Unfortunately, James seemed to enjoy having an audience. The moment they walked in, his eyes landed on a slim woman jogging on a treadmill.

“Look at her.” Queen remained silent. “See that?”

He pointed anyway. “She’s already fit, and she’s still here working on herself.”

Queen swallowed. “James…”

“No, seriously.” His voice was loud enough to attract attention. “That’s discipline.”

He pointed toward another woman lifting weights. “And her too.” A few people turned to look.

Queen wished the floor would open and swallow her. “Even people with perfect bodies still come to the gym.” His eyes traveled over her body. “So what excuse do you have?”

Several people glanced between them. Queen felt heat rush to her face.

“I don’t have an excuse.” “Exactly.” James nodded proudly.

“As long as you listen to me, you’ll thank me one day I promise.”

The words sounded less like encouragement and more like ownership.

“I love you, Queen.” He squeezed her shoulder.

“That’s why I’m doing this.” A knot formed in her stomach.

Because every insult always came wrapped inside those three words. I love you.

After thirty minutes on the treadmill, James wasn’t satisfied. He dragged her by the hand  straight to the front desk. “I need a personal trainer.” The receptionist smiled politely and pointed at a guy standing close to them.

“For yourself?” “the trainer asked.  James laughed. “No.”

Then pointed directly at Queen. “For her.” The trainer’s smile immediately faded.

“Oh.” “She’s clearly not getting results on her own.” Queen wanted to disappear.

“James, please.” “No.” He folded his arms. “We’re done wasting time.” The trainer looked uncomfortable. “I can certainly help create a fitness plan.” “Good.”

James nodded. “Because whatever she’s doing isn’t working.” Several gym members were openly staring now.

Queen felt her eyes burn. The trainer glanced sympathetically at her. Unfortunately, James wasn’t finished. 

“I’ve spent weeks trying to help her but to no avail.” “a professional won’t be bad”

“She’s lucky to have someone like me by her side who loves her and tell her the truth”

The trainer said nothing. Queen lowered her head. Because she knew what came next.

It always came next. “If I didn’t love her, I wouldn’t bother.”

The personal trainer suggested recording Queen’s weight to track her progress as the begin.

 Queen reluctantly stepped onto the scale. For a brief second, everything seemed normal.

Then there was a sharp cracking sound. The display flickered.The scale stopped working.

 Everyone froze. The trainer immediately crouched beside it.

“Huh.” He inspected the machine.  “It looks damaged.”

James laughed. A cold, humorless laugh. “Damaged?”

The trainer nodded. “It probably needs replacing.”

James looked at Queen.

Then back at the broken scale. Then laughed again. Louder this time.

“Or maybe it couldn’t handle her weight.” The words echoed through the room.

Several gym members immediately looked away. Others pretended not to hear.

Queen wished she could disappear. “Sir,” the trainer said carefully, “that’s not how scales work.”

James ignored him. “You know what’s funny?” Queen’s hands started shaking.

“I’ve never seen a scale break before.” “James, stop.”

“No.” His voice rose. “Maybe this should be your wake-up call.” The trainer stepped forward.

“That’s enough.” James looked offended. “What?”

“You’re embarrassing her.” For the first time all morning, someone had actually defended her.

Unfortunately, it only made James angrier. “I’m helping her.” “she is my woman, my future wife, and the mother of my unborn kids. So allow me to help her. 

“No.” The trainer shook his head. “You’re humiliating her.” The entire gym fell silent.

Queen felt tears gathering. Without another word, she grabbed her bag and walked away.

She could hear James calling after her. She didn’t stop.

By the time she reached the office, she had already cried twice in the bathroom.

The office was buzzing before Queen even stepped out of the elevator.

People were smiling. Laughing. Celebrating.

For a brief moment, she wondered what she had missed.

Then she saw the banner hanging near the conference room.

CONGRATULATIONS MELISSA!!!!

Her stomach tightened. Immediately.   The investors.

The contract she had spent weeks researching. The proposal she had practically built from scratch. The account she had lost to Melissa. They had signed it.

A round of applause erupted from somewhere ahead.

Queen forced a smile and continued walking toward her desk. Maybe she could get through today without it hurting.  Maybe. Just maybe 

 “Queen!” She looked up. Melissa was approaching with a bright smile.

A bouquet of flowers in one hand. A gift bag in the other.

“Oh my God, can you believe it?  I  got the contract!!!!”  I literally got them to sign the papers.

 Queen nodded. “Congratulations.” “Thank you.” Melissa beamed.  

“The clients absolutely loved my presentation.” The words landed like tiny cuts.

Queen forced a polite smile. “Congratulations.”

“Thank you.”

Melissa placed the bouquet on a desk and lowered her voice. “You know, I actually owe you.”

Queen frowned. “What do you mean?” Melissa laughed softly.

“Oh, come on. Let’s not pretend.” A strange feeling settled in Queen’s stomach.

“You built the entire project.” Queen’s froze.

“You did all the research. Prepared the client file. Organized the presentation.”

The smile on Melissa’s face widened. “But if we’re being honest, I got the deal because I was the one standing in the room.”

Queen felt her chest tighten. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Melissa shrugged. “The clients wanted someone polished.” “someone prepresentable”

Her eyes deliberately traveled over Queen’s body. “Someone who looked the part.”

The meaning was unmistakable. Queen’s face burned.

“Melissa.”

“What? I’m just being honest.” Melissa said mockingly.

“If you weren’t so overweight, I’d probably still be sitting at my desk while you accepted all this praise.” She laughed. A light, careless laugh. “So thank you, Queen, for being overweight.”

The words dripped with mock sweetness. “Thank you for being too fat to fit the company’s image.” Queen felt as if the air had been knocked from her lungs.

“Without that, I wouldn’t have gotten the bonus, the recognition, or the attention from management.” Melissa tilted her head. “So really, I owe you one.”

The tears gathering behind Queen’s eyes made her angry. Not at Melissa. At herself..

A slow clap echoed through the office. Melissa’s smile vanished. Ava stood a few feet away.

Her expression was deadly. “Wow.” The clap stopped. “That might be the most pathetic thing I’ve heard all year.”

Melissa straightened. “This doesn’t concern you.” “Oh, it concerns me, Queen is my best friend and whatever concerns her, concerns me as well, so you deal with me now.”

Ava walked closer.

“You come here pretending to be grateful when all you’re doing is kicking someone who’s already down.”

Melissa rolled her eyes. “I was joking.”

“No.” Ava’s voice sharpened. “You were being cruel.” Several employees looked over.

Nobody dared interrupt. Melissa folded her arms. 

Ava laughed. A cold laugh. It's funny how you call someone  overweight when you look like a hungry dog chasing after a bone to be thrown at her. 

“Just so you know my dear mellisa, you look so hungry and skinny  that i keep thinking of packing you my leftovers because every time i see you, i wonder if you’ve eaten all week” 

“well i’d have consider hugging you to congratulate you but i am too worried about breaking a bone”

The office went silent. Melissa’s face immediately darkened.

Ava pointed toward the flowers.

“You got praise today. Congratulations.” Then she looked at Queen.

“But don’t confuse opportunity with talent.” Melissa opened her mouth.

Ava wasn’t finished. “Because the difference between you and Queen is that she could have done your job.” Her gaze hardened. “You couldn’t have done hers.”

For a moment, everyone stared. Melissa grabbed her flowers. “This conversation is ridiculous.”

“No.” Ava said calmly.

“What’s ridiculous is standing here mocking the woman whose work made you look good.”

Melissa spun around and stormed away. The moment she disappeared, Ava turned to Queen.

The anger left her face instantly. Replaced by concern.

Real concern. “Are you okay?” Queen looked down at her desk.  At the computer screen she could no longer read through the tears.

And for the first time that day, she allowed herself to admit the truth.

“No.” She wasn’t okay. Not even close. 

Queen leaned on Ava shoulder and was crying profusely” “don’t let that skinny girl make you cry, she is not worth your tears”

Queen in real tears "I am not even worried about her, it is James. “Ava’s face turned sour” 

“What happened this again” 

 “would you believe that james followed me to the gym this morning and embarrassed me front of everyone just because the scale had a crack immediate i climbed on it” 

“OMG this james of yours is really trying to take me to prison” Ava frowned"

“Queen, this isn’t normal.” She grabbed Queen’s hands.

“This man is destroying you.” Queen immediately shook her head.

“He said  loves me.” “He promised to marry me, you don’t get it Ava”  The words sounded weak. Even to her.

Ava’s eyes filled with sadness. “No, sweetheart.”

Her voice cracked. “People who love you don’t make you hate yourself, or lose yourself.” 

Queen had no response. Because deep down…

A small part of her was beginning to wonder if Ava was right.