Chapter Text
Melody pinches the fat of her abdomen, getting her mind off of the odd dream she had last night. She can't eat any less healthily, but it's getting to her weight. She needs to work out more, and that will fix it.
She dresses in her ballet outfit. She has a show coming up, and needs to practice with the cast.
Before she leaves, she checks her reflection in the standing mirror. Her slight fat isn't too noticeable when she's in this outfit, her arms thin and waist slim. The bodice definitely covers the fat of her abdomen, but she ignores it.
Everything is tight on her, and that's something she just can't ignore. She's just slightly bloated, but it's really affecting her self image. She knows that's what it is, but…eugh. The feeling of tightness of clothing is so uncomfortable. It's already sticking to her sweat.
Hopefully, the cast won't notice. It will leave, as it always does, but it disgusts her here and now.
She notices an odd light in the reflection— it's just the window outside, but it looks filtered. It's a vibrant explosion of color, and she turns her neck to view it for herself.
Her neck doesn't move. She tries to rotate her body, but it doesn't listen to her commands.
Her hands won't budge, not her toes or her fingers. Her eyes won't blink, her chest won't rise or fall.
Melody will die here, paralyzed for no good reason.
Her eyes are stuck, unmoving, staring at the reflection of the light. Hours pass, and her mind drifts elsewhere, into a realm of fear and terror. A waking nightmare, if you will. How she exists without breath is inexplicable, unexplainable, terrifying, and hell itself.