to the girl in the bathroom stall next to me at the gym

[Jenni Marie]

I wanted to make an excuse for you like I used to do for myself. Something didn't agree with you at dinner, you have the flu, or it was an emotional day. But when I saw you smiling and dancing in class, I wondered it if was all a facade. I thought maybe if I smiled at you and told you you were beautiful and graceful, it might make you think the next time you stuck your finger down your throat. I'm just a stranger who stands in the back, shakes my booty to the salsa music, and laughs when we mess up the steps, so why would it matter if I said a thing? I hope I said it with my smile.

[Angela]

Is this what women have come to?  I know it's nothing new, I just thought that those of us who purge did it in private.  Like at home.  Because it was shameful. This is so much more despairing and disturbing.

 

[Jenni Marie]

Thanks for all your comments! Simon, I love this. I wish that was the story. There might be something there. . .

[Simon Halliday]

Jen, so this is what happens when you don't pay attention:

I started reading your 6S and for some reason thought the piece was by a guy. Then I get to sentence two (I still have the title in my mind) and I haven't really 'listened' to sentence one, and so I have the notion that this is a biographical piece about a guy who is in the next stall to a beautiful girl's, but that something didn't agree (with her) at dinner ...  so before I've even got half way I've mis-assumed what the whole piece is about, and how a bad smell CAN kill true love in its tracks.

In my defence, I did re-read your 6S, and it's thoughtful and sensitive, and well-written.

[Joey Delgado]

I love the question, 'why would it matter if I said a thing?' Boy, does it always matter. Sometimes it takes someone who is kinda like you and kinda not to save you from yourself.

There is something to the look of a paragraph or a printed page, and this one looks compact, small, but the content is so incredibly powerful and well-written. Great. :)

[Kristine_ES]

some can smile when they mess up... and smile and hope to bring some light to somebody who could really use it.

some people haven't figured out it's okay to mess up, or be imperfect.  :( 

[Teresa]

Strange what goes on in bathrooms, what we hide.  Powerful.  That's what they're looking for, power in beauty, self-control, control of their bodies.  Elusive perfection.  Or maybe they don't even know what they want, some X brand of some X thing they can't find or get enough of in a world of too many colorful neon X's.  Sad tale.

[Gita]

You made me wonder if she is dancing and smiling because she enjoys it or because it's just a way to burn calories. VERY powerful six. Fave.

[bolton carley]

oh, if only that smile could change things for people who need it.  i'm so glad your strength can now be given instead of needed for yourself.  something to be very proud of beyond an excellent 6.

[Brittany]

women, we are amazing creatures. if only we believed. great piece.

[Mike Handley]

Smiling and dancing, hiding the self loathing ... The richest of fodder can be found in the lowest, strangest and most unexpected places.