Pearl looked at herself in the mirror, her long brown hair cascading over her shoulders and framing her pretty face. She was wearing a simple white shirt that hugged her curves gently, her breasts slightly visible through the fabric. But it wasn't enough for her today; she felt bloated, uncomfortable in her own skin. She slipped off her shirt and reached for her hoodie, pulling it on over her head with a sigh. It covered most of her belly, hiding away the softness that had been bothering her lately. She grabbed her phone from the dresser and checked the time. Her boyfriend was probably already home from work, downstairs, and waiting for her like she asked.
Her thighs were toned from dancing in high school but had developed a slight softness over the years of college life and eating pizza every other night. She grabbed a new pair of dolphin shorts from her drawer, knowing they would keep her comfy as she moved. Once dressed, she paused again to admire herself in the mirror one last time before walking downstairs to join her boyfriend in his workout routine. As she descended the stairs slowly, each step creaked under her weight which only served as a reminder of how much extra weight she had gained since starting college. But despite this reminder, she smiled warmly when she heard a familiar voice cut through her thoughts. "Babe, I can tell what you're thinking. Stop it. My house is old, and those stairs have always creaked."