Oh.
My.
God.
Those were, and frankly still are, the three words running through my mind after he grabbed me and pushed me up against the wall. I've had my fair share of shameful drives back home, just like any young woman in her twenties, though they always took place the morning after some regretful decision, but this by far wasn't one of them.
I began going to the local gym somewhere between my last semester of college and graduation. It wasn't so much for appearances, but rather just to make myself feel good. I was graduating, I was about to be free from school, I had an internship lined up, my life was just getting started and I deserved to feel good about myself! I knew I could shave off what had gathered around my midriff by the time graduation rolled around, but my thighs were inherited from my mother and if history repeated itself, they'd stick around. My sister and I used to always joke that I got my hips from our mom and my chest from our dad, the latter who was skinny as a rail. I was proud of my small bust throughout school and thankful I didn't wind up like some of the other girls who got stared down and cat-called for what was bouncing around up top. Still, that never did stop a stray hand from getting a good grab at a party though, so I guess it's one evil traded for another.
The town I commuted from and lived in then was rather small and only had one place to its name. You probably know the type; strip mall special, tucked between a Pizza Hut and some bargain outlet with only a handful of machines to use and a small weight selection. The price was right though, and what little bit they had would serve my purposes, so I signed up and didn't look back.
This is where the kicker comes in though; I didn't meet Mark until near the end of things. I spent the first two months doing things on my own, and having limited success with it. It seemed like no matter what I tried, no matter how many Pinterest boards I went through, I'd be down a pound one week and then up two the next. Truth be told, if it hadn't been for the special he was running, I wouldn't have even thought about getting a personal trainer to help. I was more than content in my frustration to just give up, call it a day, and just try and cut out booze and any over indulgences.