chapter 5 - the scale

- 4 DAYS LATER -

“Ugh... Isabelle... Wake up, it’s past 11 in the morning.”

George and Isabelle’s sleep schedule has gotten worse ever since quarantine started. They stay up late and wake up late. Without work, any sense of routine has been lost. All non-essential activities, including gyms, have been banned. The focus on the fight against MDD-20 has changed the lives of everyone.

“Isabelle, get over here. Time for your morning weigh-in.”

Isabelle, with her eyes closed walked over to the bathroom and stepped on the scale.

“141 pounds.”

Isabelle opened her eyes to see the number.

“141 pounds?! That’s 3 more than yesterday!”

George took a step back. He hesitated whether he should keep his distance from his wife, but then realized that he had just slept with her.

“Look, Isabelle. You’re stressed. Maybe you’re stress eating.”

“I’ve got the disease. My life is over.”

“How could you have gotten the disease? You haven’t left the house in days.”

“You gave it to me when you went to the store.”

George stepped on the scale.

“185. The same that it was yesterday and the day before and the day before. Your weight isn’t caused by the disease, it’s just caused by stress.”

The first thing the Spellmans did the following day was weigh themselves.

“I’m scared to see that number, George.”

“There’s nothing to be afraid of. You’re fine. It will probably be less than yesterday.”

“I’m not stepping on. I’m going downstairs to eat breakfast.”

Isabelle turned away from the scale. George quickly grabbed her arms and pulled her back.

“C’mon, this is the most accurate way we can gather information.”

Isabelle sternly looked at George and then weighed herself.

“140. You lost a pound. How do you feel now?”

Isabelle didn’t say a thing and left the room. George shrugged and stepped on.

“184. I lost a pound too!”

Every day felt the same for the Spellmans, wake up, weigh in, exercise eat, watch TV, stay up late, wake up late, and repeat.

- 3 DAYS LATER -

“I’m going for a run,” Isabelle announced.

“Okay, just keep your distance from other runners.”

Isabelle stepped outside and started her jog. She listened to music as she ran. It was the first time she ran outside in over a week. When running by herself, Isabelle had a tendency to look straight down at her feet as she ran.

“Hey!”

Isabelle bumped into a runner heading in her direction. She stumbled and fell on the sidewalk. Instinctively, she held out her hand as if to request help from the runner. The runner pulled her up off the ground.

“Isabelle! I’m so sorry!”

Isabelle pulled out her earbuds and realized it was Trish she ran into. She looked down at Trish’s body in shock. She was wearing a sports bra, and her revealed belly was massive. Her love handles spilled over her waistband. She had stretch marks on her lower belly. Her thighs were huge and her bottom was round. Her face lost its jawline and instead a double chin was forming. Her boobs were huge, too. She must’ve put on at least 50 pounds since the last time Isabelle saw her. She was wearing a mask. Isabelle felt a sharp pain in her chest as she realized that Trish had MDD-20. She stumbled backwards into the street.

“T-Trish! You’ve... Do you...? Are you...?”

“I haven’t been tested but this-“

Trish grabbed her soft belly fat and shook it.

“-is good enough evidence to believe I’m positive. I didn’t mean to bump into you! I’m wearing a mask so maybe that helps!”

Isabelle, stunned and afraid, ran at full speed to her house.