CelesteI knew what I needed to do in order to remedy the situation with my dress.The next night, after I had fished the cornflower blue dress out of the garbage and kept it hidden in a box in my closet all night, I fished it out. I practically gagged at the smell, and prayed that the stains hadn’t sat there for too long.My brother was out, but he would be home soon. I only just got home after my classes for the day; I had to be fast. Quickly and quietly, like a mouse, I ran to the bathroom and got to work.I found an article online with instructions on how to get stains out of satin fabric, and I followed those instructions to the letter.The cold water ran over my hands as I scrubbed at the delicate fabric of the dress.The memory of the trash can's pungent aroma was still fresh in my mind. I couldn't believe I had to go through all this just because of some cruel remarks; the dress had looked perfect on me, or at least, that's what I had believed.I still never understood why Jac

CelesteThe gym echoed with a constant symphony of footsteps, clanging weights, and stifled conversation.“Hey. Celeste.” Fiona nudged me with her elbow, breaking me out of my short-lived reverie with Matt, who had now returned to his conversation with his friends. “Come on.”I nodded and followed her, feeling my face turning a deep shade of red—both from Matt’s unexpected presence and the other people around me, who were no doubt staring at the chubby newcomer in her baggy sweatpants and men’s t-shirt.As Fiona and I walked over to the treadmills, I caught snippets of whispered conversations that seemed to have one thing in common: me."...can't believe she's here...""...does she think she can keep up?"I felt a nudge. Fiona rolled her eyes, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Sounds like you're the talk of the town. Congrats.”I sighed. “Yeah, for all the wrong reasons.”Under so-called ‘normal’ circumstances, maybe I would have listened to the advice of others who said that people i

CelesteI could still feel the heat of Sabrina's cruel words when Matt's commanding voice filled the space.Sabrina whipped around, her haughty air momentarily faltering, replaced by an expression I had never seen on her before: uncertainty.“What was that, Matt?” Sabrina snapped, her voice trembling ever so slightly.“You heard me,” Matt said. “You’re a bully. Get out; this is no place for someone like you.”Sabrina stared up at Matt in shocked silence for a long time. She was kneeling on her yoga mat, already having returned to her workout now that she had driven me away. Slowly, she stood, placing her hands on her hips.“You’re joking,” she growled.Matt took a deep breath, his stance firm and unwavering. “This is a gym, Sabrina, a place for people to come and feel better about themselves. Not to be torn down by the likes of you.”Sabrina huffed, rolling her eyes. “Oh, come on. It was just a little harmless fun.”“I'm on duty tonight. As the part-time manager of this gym,” Matt sai

CelesteThe dining room was filled with the sound of conversation and laughter. None of Jack’s friends—not even Matt—was aware of my inner turmoil. I chose to keep it that way.I avoided Matt’s gaze. Although he laughed and spoke with his friends, I couldn’t unsee that sad look in his eyes.He had seen my messages already; I could only imagine what I would see when I turned on my phone later. I should have blocked him right after I hit send and saved us both the trouble.Each dish I served was met with Jack's scrutinizing eyes, his lips twisting into a smirk every time he opened his mouth to speak. But I kept my head down, pouring water into glasses and refilling dishes, focusing on the repetitive motions to distract myself from his constant jabs.Be the perfect sister, I kept thinking to myself, my body moving mechanically as though I was being operated by a remote control. Don’t feel. Just serve.“Celeste, this chicken is overcooked,” Jack hissed. He then turned to his nearest frien

CelesteThe rain had started as a gentle drizzle but now beat steadily against the window panes. The world outside was blurred, creating a scene of shimmering lights and hazy figures. The atmosphere felt thick with anticipation.The dress store loomed ahead, its bright sign a beacon of hope in the encroaching darkness. It stood there like an old friend, though the circumstances under which I was returning were anything but friendly.“Celeste, are you sure you want to wait outside?” Fiona asked, concern evident in her voice.“Yes. I just... I don’t want to go in there. Not after the last time. What if someone recognizes me?”Fiona sighed. “Alright, but stay close to the entrance. I’ll be in and out in a jiffy.”I nodded, pulling my hood further over my face, taking solace in the comforting darkness it provided. Fiona gave my hand a reassuring squeeze before stepping into the store.With a deep breath, I leaned against the cold brick wall beside the entrance, focusing on the rhythmic pa