To my very good friend, Joshua

Do you know how much you hurt me? Do you know you made me cry? Do you realize how you encouraged Ed to echo your words between my ears for the rest of the day?

I feel as though I have come so far. I have been on a journey you know nothing of. Hardship and pain you know nothing of. If you did know the struggles, the conscious decisions I have to make every single day, maybe you would take your words back. Words that jabbed me like a knife...or, rather, like your fingers poking and prodding at my fat as if it were your place to judge.

I still feel your hands pinching my "love handles" or poking the belly I am very aware that I have acquired. Ed makes sure of that each and every day. He makes sure I realize how big I'm getting. He pokes and inspects every inch of my body. Every. Single. Day.

So, thanks, but I think I got the physical critiquing covered.

I know you may not realize how deeply you are hurting me when you make these seemingly insignificant gestures. You think nothing of it but, then, you cannot see the battle I am fighting within myself. You cannot see how hard it is for me to combat the ridicules made by Ed.

Every day I am getting stronger and better able to ignore these criticisms. There are days when I feel like the goddess my amazing boyfriend insists I am. And then there are days when people like you feel the need to share their opinion of me.

I have hid my emotional insecurites regarding my body from many of those closest to me. Perhaps, until Ed is long gone anyway, it would be considerate of you to do the same.

Love,
Megan