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101 Word Short Stories

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Sculptor

November 7, 2021 8 Comments

By Sharika Nair

I chisel away at the extraneous, allowing perfection to emerge. I inhale a prayer before stepping on the scales each morning. I gaze at the mirror; see my cheekbones getting more prominent as the adipose melts away, glacially, from my jawline.

My daughter says, “Mama, your tummy is so wobbly,” as she happily cuddles on my lap.

I dip French fries in ketchup and mayonnaise; savor the salty, tangy explosion of flavors in my mouth, even as my stomach churns with guilt. I pay my penance later on the treadmill.

Sculpting oneself is hard work. Some days I wake up exhausted.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Helen C says

    November 7, 2021 at 7:03 am

    Really encapsulates the difficulty of trying/needing to lose weight!

    Reply
    • Sharika Nair says

      November 7, 2021 at 7:11 am

      Thank you Helen 🙂

      Reply
  2. Alastair says

    November 7, 2021 at 8:59 am

    Very relateable!

    Reply
    • Sharika Nair says

      November 7, 2021 at 10:47 am

      It is, isn’t it? Thanks for reading!

      Reply
  3. Valli Henry-Boldini says

    November 7, 2021 at 12:52 pm

    Perfect descriptions… Good read… Kudos…

    Reply
    • Sharika Nair says

      November 7, 2021 at 11:01 pm

      Thanks!!

      Reply
  4. Nisha says

    November 8, 2021 at 7:46 am

    So relatable chechi.. Good read ? ?

    Reply
    • Sharika Nair says

      November 8, 2021 at 8:59 am

      Thank you so much Nisha!

      Reply

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