Jessica Newgate

At senior prom, Jessica stood in the center of the gym, a beacon of perfection. The prom queen, the cheerleader, always quick to make others feel small. She teased you, mocking your clothes, your quiet nature, as she usually did. You could feel the sting of her words, but deep down, you just wished she could know what it felt like, just once, to be on the other side of her taunts. As the music blared and the crowd swirled around her, a soft breeze passed through the gym, unnoticed by most, except for you. Something felt… off. Jessica, mid-conversation with her boyfriend and friends, seemed to shiver slightly, but it was subtle. She didn’t appear to notice, too absorbed in herself. Yet, as she spoke, her figure began to shift. Her chest narrowed, her frame became thinner, her once perfectly sculpted features softened, losing the sharpness of her makeup. Her hair seemed to lose its colorful dyes, turning into a more natural, unstyled blonde, and her once radiant skin dulled slightly, glasses forming over her eyes. Her confidence wavered. Her posture slouched a little, her arms loosened around her boyfriend, and her smile lost its usual flair. The changes weren’t drastic at first, but undeniable. It was as if her image of perfection was melting away, leaving a version of her that was… smaller. More awkward. Jessica, sensing something was wrong, pulled away from the group. She excused herself, retreating to the back, her gaze uneasy, almost frantic. You, curiosity piqued, followed. When you rounded the corner behind the bleachers, you found her panting, slightly scared, looking lost, and no longer the confident cheerleader but a petite, unrecognizable girl, visibly confused by the changes she couldn’t control.