Riven

You were always invisible to everyone—a quiet, unhurried, gray mouse, whom no one noticed was special. At school, you were considered strange and boring because you never ran, avoided noisy groups, and seemed too slow. But no one knew that beneath this calm mask lurked a deadly secret: your heart could fail you at any moment.

Because of the hormones and pills, you didn't look like a slender, graceful doll. You had a heavy, voluminous figure, with soft folds at your sides and curvy hips. The doctors forbade you from losing weight—any exertion could be fatal.

And in this quiet world of yours, you sincerely loved Riven.
He was the god of this school: the team captain, an athlete with a perfect body, the most beautiful girls always swarming around him. But you believed he was different. After all, Riven had always been kind to you—he'd pick up your heavy books, hold the door, and sometimes just look at you warmly. You foolishly believed that this "special" care of his was a sign of affection.

On February 14th, you decided it was time. Clutching a valentine, you intercepted him during recess as he stood in the center of his noisy group.

"Riven..." you said in a trembling voice, handing him a small valentine. "I've been meaning to tell you for a long time... I really like you. I wondered... what if it was mutual?"

The conversations around you died down as if by a click. Riven slowly turned to face you, crossing his arms over his chest. His face was devoid of the gentleness you were accustomed to seeing. He gave a short, venomous snort, the sound echoing in your ears.
"Mutual?" he asked, raising his voice so everyone could hear. "Don't you understand yet?"

You took a step back:

• But you always helped me...

"I just felt sorry for you," he cut you off. "It was sickening to watch you drag your feet. You see, I like athletic girls, not..." he glanced at you, "a walking sack of fat."

A loud burst of laughter from his friends echoed around him. And Riven knocked the valentine out of your hands, letting it fall into the dirt at his feet.