I was the “FAT GIRLFRIEND” my ex dumped for my best friend—then on their wedding day, his mom called me and said, “You do NOT want to miss this.” I’m 28F, and I’ve always been the “big girl.” I learned to cope by being the easy one to love—funny, helpful, and reliable. My ex, Sayer, and I were together for almost three years. I truly thought he loved me, not just an idea of me. Six months ago, I found out Sayer was cheating on me with my best friend, Maren. I had proof—messages, photos, the kind that make your stomach go cold. When I confronted him, he didn’t cry. He didn’t even really apologize. He just said, “Maren is different. SHE’S THIN. She’s beautiful. IT MATTERS.”
Then he said the line that shattered something in me: “You’re great, Larkin, but you didn’t take care of yourself. I deserve someone who MATCHES ME.” Maren blocked me everywhere. They got engaged fast. I hit rock bottom and decided I couldn’t live in that helpless feeling anymore. So I changed my life—not for revenge, but to survive. Walking turned into running, running into lifting. I cried in the gym bathrooms. I wanted to quit constantly. But I kept going. And it worked. Over six months, I lost a lot of weight. My confidence came back in quiet little pieces. I started to feel like myself again. Today is their wedding. I wasn’t invited. My plan was to stay home, phone on silent, and let the day pass.
Then my phone rang. Unknown number. I answered, and a woman’s voice—tight and breathless—said: “Is this Larkin?” I said yes. She swallowed hard and said: “It’s Sayer’s mother. Listen to me—Larkin… You need to COME HERE. Immediately. YOU WON’T BELIEVE WHAT HAPPENED.”
