Chapter 1: Introduction
The marble countertop was cold against Melissa's palms as she leaned over the sink, staring intently at her reflection in the mirror. The bright fluorescent lights of the bathroom cast an unflattering glow on her skin, highlighting every imperfection she could find. She pinched the soft flesh around her midsection, grimacing at the jiggle that followed. Her eyes shifted down to her thighs, memorizing the dimples that she'd always hated. She shifted, trying to find a different angle that might make her appear smaller, but every view seemed worse than the last.
Sighing, she turned to the scale that sat beneath the counter, the digital numbers blinking expectantly. She stepped on, wincing as the numbers climbed higher than she'd hoped.
"Well, at least it's not as high as it was last week," she muttered to herself, trying to find a silver lining. She stepped off, feeling the cool tile under her bare feet, and made her way back to the bedroom, where the scent of sweat still lingered in the air.
Steven was sitting on the edge of their king-sized bed, tying his shoes. He glanced up as she entered, his eyes barely meeting hers before returning to his task.
"You're up early," he commented, his voice devoid of any emotion.
Melissa forced a smile, trying to hide the sting of his indifference. "Yeah, I figured I'd get in a workout before work. Maybe you could join me?" She hoped the invitation might spark some interest, but his blank expression told her otherwise.
"Not today, babe. I've got a meeting first thing," he replied, standing up and brushing past her on his way to the door. "I'll see you later."
She watched him leave, the door clicking shut behind him.
She felt a pang of loneliness, but it was quickly replaced by a familiar determination. She wouldn't let this defeat her. She had a plan.
Her gaze fell on the small, unassuming box sitting on the dresser. It was a recent addition, a gift from an old friend who swore by its contents. Melissa had been skeptical at first, but the more she thought about it, the more she felt it was worth a shot. She picked up the box, tracing the words printed on the front: "FitFast - Turn Fat into Muscle and Height."
She opened the box, revealing a small bottle filled with tiny, white pills.