I take the crown off and set it on the nightstand. “I hope he shows up for the party,” I sigh, climbing into bed. We haven't communicated for two days, and it's all because of a fight over a text I saw on his phone. I confronted him about it, but instead of reassuring me, he chose to gaslight me, insisting I was accusing him of cheating. I left his house angry that night, and he hasn’t reached out since.
I peel my eyes open and glance at the clock on the wall. It's a few minutes past 8 a.m. I sigh and stretch. My eyes land on the nightstand, where a pink box of muffins sits. Beneath the box is a gift wrapped in shiny black paper with a black ribbon tied into a bow.
I smile and scoot closer to the nightstand, grabbing the gift. As my fingers brush the ribbon, ready to untie it, the door creaks open. Mom peeks her head in. “She’s finally awake,” she says with a grin, stepping inside.
She begins singing “Happy Birthday” while doing a comical little dance, moving her shoulders and body in a way that makes me laugh. Mom isn’t much of a dancer, but on my birthday, she’d do anything to make me happy.
I didn’t know my dad. Mom said he went to heaven before I was born. She’s all I have, and her little efforts to put a smile on my face mean the world to me.
“That wasn’t easy at all,” Mom says, collapsing onto the bed, next to me, breathing heavily.
“Thanks, Mom,” I chuckle, pulling her into a hug and burying my face in her shoulder. She presses her lips to my forehead, and warmth floods through me. It’s one of my favorite things she does; it always soothes me.
I pull away and look at the gift on my lap. Without looking at her, I ask, “who’s this from?”
She shrugs. “Found it at the door while trying to get back in after my run.”
“Oh, I hope it’s a laptop,” I say with a grin, untying the fancy knot before tearing off the wrapping paper.
When the contents come into view, my smile fades. I glance at Mom, and she looks just as surprised as I am.
“A scale?” My voice is low and shaky. Tears sting my eyes, and I don’t even try to hold them back. My ego feels crushed. I’ve only gained one pound this past month, and I thought it was cute. Everyone else seemed to think so too.
“Am I fat, Mom?”
“Jesus, Hailey!” she exclaims, her face stern. I can see anger in her eyes - not directed at me, but at whoever sent this gift. “You’re the most beautiful seventeen-year-old I’ve ever seen,” she says, pulling me up.
Just as I’m about to step off the bed, a note falls to the ground. I pick it up and attempt to open it, but Mom takes it from me immediately. She walks me to the mirror, placing her hands on my shoulders.
“Don’t slouch, Hailey. Look up and really see yourself,” she says, her eyes moist. She hates seeing me broken.
“What do you see, baby?” she asks, her voice soft and pleading.
“I don’t know, Mom,” I murmur, turning around and burying my face in her shoulder, sobbing uncontrollably. “I know I’m not fat,” I say, my voice muffled.
She rubs my back. “The gift is from Lucas. I'm not surprised.” She scoffed. “He writes, ‘I’m sorry, Hailey, but can you watch your weight a little? I really don’t find slim-thick girls attractive. I love really thin girls.’”
I hear the paper crunch as Mom balls it up and tosses it in the trash. I step away from her and sit on the bed, wiping the tears from my eyes.
“He’s not worth it,” I say firmly, looking Mom in the eye.
She smiles, kneeling before me. “He definitely isn’t. You’re beautiful.”
She pushes off the floor and walks to the closet, pulling out a trophy. Reading the plaque, she says, “Most Beautiful Girl in Freda County, Hailey Parkers.” She hands it to me, and I smile.
Three weeks ago, I entered a contest for the most beautiful girl in the county, and to my surprise, I won. It was a special moment for Mom and me.
I set the trophy aside and walk over to her, wrapping my arms around her waist and burying my face in her chest.
“We have a party to plan,” I whisper.
“We sure do,” she replies, pressing a kiss to my head.
As we walk out of the room, I start plotting a comeback for Lucas - something so sharp, it’ll keep him indoors for days. No one messes with Hailey Parker, especially on her birthday.