Winter Weight

Chapter 1 - Summer's End

A crisp autumn breeze blew in from your window, carrying the scent of fallen leaves and rain. Gentle pattering sounded from light rainfall outside. There was a pumpkin scented candle burning on your bedside table while you snuggled into your thick, fluffy blankets. This was the life.

At 22 years old, freshly graduated from college, you couldn't ask for a more peaceful evening. College had really done numbers to you. The stress alone had caused you to lose a lot of weight and made you constantly tired from lack of nutrients. You gave up going out into public because all people did was stare at you and say how good you looked compared to the curvaceous woman you once were. For the past month, you've found solice inside your secluded home and in your flower garden.

All your college friends seemed to do was go out clubbing and bar hopping- you wanted nothing to do with that. Preferring a more quiet lifestyle, you stay at home and play video games, watch movies, and sculpt with whatever you have lying around inside and outside. You still communicated with your friends, but they were just too different from you.

Ping!

Your phone. Where was it? You felt around the thick blanket, trying to find the solid object.

Ping!

Damnit. What the hell? It was just here a second ago.

Ping!

Oh. It was on the bedside table. You unlocked it and checked your notifications.

'Did you eat today baby?'

You groaned. Your girlfriend had been concerned about your drastic drop in weight. She's been texting you every day to make sure you ate at least 2 meals a day. She knows you haven't had the energy to do much of anything lately, and she misses how excited you used to get planning out a day full of hobbies.

'I forgot.'

You lied. You remembered- just didn't have the energy to get out of bed. You were starving, but you were used to it.

'Alright, I'll be home soon with some pizza. Peppers, onions, mushrooms, extra cheese?'

Smiling, you hearted the message. You loved pizza. Whenever you "forgot" to eat, your girlfriend would bring home a large pizza for you and you would go to town on it. You ate it within minutes while she watched you, a warm smile resting upon her face. She loved being able to provide for you, and seeing you finally eat made her happy. You'd do anything to make her happy.

30 minutes had went by before you heard the front door open. Shoes clattered onto the floor and keys jingled followed by the thump of her overly stuffed purse landing on the kitchen table. The fridge door opened and shut and you heard a soda can crack open. Feet shuffled up the stairs alongside the aromatic smell of pizza. You were salivating.

"Hey baby, I brought your favorite!" She sat next to you on the bed and placed the pizza in your lap and the can of coke onto the table. You rubbed your hands together and opened the box with a satisfied sigh.

"Eat up, don't want this pizza going to waste." She cooed, picking up a slice and holding it to your lips. You took a big bite and moaned softly at the taste. It was so delicious. Taking the pizza from her hands, you hastily swallowed and took another big bite.

"Can you put on a movie? You can choose." You said with your mouthful of gooey pizza. She nodded and picked up the remote. She browsed the channels for a few minutes before settling on something about aliens and cornfields. You were already on your third slice by the time she changed out of her work uniform and into comfy clothes. She laid down next to you in bed, snuggling up to your side like velcro.

"How was your day? Was your boss being a dick again?" She nodded against your shoulder and let out a low hum. You hated her boss. He was always piling tons of work onto her and making her stay late just to finish it. You knew damn well that the extra work she was doing wasn't part of her job description. A low growl emmitted from your throat.

"I'm sorry, love. Have you heard anything back from that remote job you applied for last week?"

"I haven't heard anything yet, but I think they're just busy. Maybe they'll get back to me next week or something." She said, rubbing her hand back and forth on your slightly bloated belly. You didn't know why she did that- maybe it was a comfort thing to her? Whatever it was, it felt good everytime she did it. You nodded, staying hopeful that she would end up with that remote job instead. You liked imaging her being at home with you all day, every day.

You huffed and shoved the last bite of pizza into your mouth, chewing slowly and swallowing hard. One large pizza gone in 10 minutes. You set the box aside and burped, reaching for your soda and swiftly chugging it down. Your belly distended further, churning and bubbling with the sudden large amount of food you just ate.

Buuuuuuurp.

You muttered an embarrased "excuse me" and set the empty can back onto the table. Your girlfriend giggled and sat upright, cradling your lap. Both of her hands slid across your swollen belly, pushing and prodding. You squirmed from the discomfort and slight tickling sensation you got from her gentle fingertips. She leaned down and kissed your stomach, resting her ear against it.

"Sounds like a warzone in there," She snickered. You let out a quiet groan and tried adjusting yourself, but the weight of her and your swollen gut held you down.

"Shh, baby," she hushed, rubbing your side. You felt drowsy, your eyes slowly fluttering shut as she rubbed your stomach. The TV alongside her skillful hands lulled you gradually into a peaceful sleep.

'This is the life...' You thought to yourself as everything faded to black.