Ma makes sense, she really does, but I just feel so heavy and gross, and I miss ballet so much, I completely lose myself

I sink onto my bed in horror. Have I gained weight? What, when?

Getting up slowly, I head to the full-size mirror on the wall.

I look the same, don’t I? But my dress won’t fit. I try on another, a tapered suede burgundy. It won’t close.

How can this be happening? On top of everything else?

Ma pokes her head in the room. She looks beautiful with her sheitel swinging around her shoulders.

“Sweetie, are you ready to go? Daddy gave the ten-minute warning.”

I just stare at her.

“Bella?” she asks uncertainly.

“Did you notice I’ve gained weight?” I ask, so quietly I’m barely audible.

Ma steps back, but not before I see the blush on her face.

“You did!” I say accusingly. “You knew!”

Mommy looks like she’s trying to decide how to respond, but I don’t let her deliberate for long.

“How? How did this happen?”

Mommy sighs and sits resolutely down on my bed. She pats the seat next to her, and I can tell she’s choosing her words carefully. “Well, zeeskeit, you’ve been rather aimless lately. And I think that has led to excessive snacking.”

I open my mouth to protest, I haven’t been eating that much, but Mommy’s still speaking.

“And you haven’t been able to burn the calories off with, well, you know.”

Oh. So, it’s just another way that my lack of dancing has now ruined my life. Add it to the list. The very long, very extensive list.

Ma holds up a hand to ward off whatever I’m about to say. “Bella Rena. Listen to me. Why does it matter that you’ve gained a few pounds? You look wonderful. What does concern me is the sudden lack of exercise. One of the main reasons Daddy and I signed you up for ballet in the first place was because it’s such a wonderfully healthy activity. Choose another active outlet, Bella Rena. It’ll be good for you, in more ways than one.”

My brain hurts. Ma makes sense, she really does, but I just feel so heavy and gross, and I miss ballet so much, I completely lose myself.