Chapter 1 - graduation

"... Leaving here means that you have the knowledge to create pieces that could change the world. Design your lives as you want to be remembered. Congratulations class of 2022!" exclaimed the keynote speaker for the FIDM summer graduating class. The graduates all cheered and launched their caps in the air.

Ilsa couldn't believe it. She had gone through so many trials and tribulations to get to this point: a mixup in admissions, a global pandemic, e-learning, and searching for a decent paying job after graduation. Thankfully, it had all worked out. She had been hired on as a production assistant at a major modeling agency in LA. It wasn't *exactly* what she dreamed but it was something, and in this economy something was always better than nothing. The 24 year old had no family, being the only child of deceased parents, she went home alone after dinner with her friends.

"Fuck, I overdid it." she moaned as she climbed up to her 3 story walk up apartment. Coming in at 5'3" and 120 lbs soaking wet, she had eaten with abandon and was visibly bloated. She had managed to avoid gaining any quarantine weight, the intense depression of being trapped alone all day robbed her of her appetite rather than increase it, and was relatively healthy in her daily life and exercised regularly. She was, however, unable to say no when offered free drinks and food. Her parents instilled in her that she should finish her food because of the "starving kids in third world countries" and she was too polite to ever decline.

She finally reached her door and entered her 1 bedroom apartment. Her parents had left her a considerable trust and life insurance payout when they passed and inherited the apartment building to her. The other tenants gave her a steady stream of passive income but her true passion was a secret to the outside world.

She kicked off her heels and peeled off her dress which released her swollen middle. 5 margaritas, 3 shots, the lions share of 3 different appetizers, her own meal, and a giant slice of chocolate cake for her celebratory dessert were currently settled in her stomach. She walked toward the kitchen and grabbed a glass of water. On her way to bed she noticed her reflection in her full length mirror. She had always admired fat people, the softness of their bodies, how they seemed to truly enjoy life and didn't seem to worry about other's or how they were viewed. In her drunken stupor she didn't recognize herself, standing there with a severely bloated middle. She watched as the reflection slowly began to rub her belly, investigating it's firmness and massaging the contents. This produced a loud belch which brought her back to reality.

"No, I can't." She thought and flopped into bed.