The Perfect Little Girl

Diana had a perfect life.
She was the cute next door neighbor girl
With great grades and a heart for the arts.
"You have the perfect body," her mom would praise. "More than most people your age."

Try as Diana might to compliment those bigger girls,
But for her mother it wasn't enough.
Fat people weren't beautiful.
They never were,
And they never will be.

They never will be enough.
"At least I'm skinny," Diana thought.
"At least then I'll be loved."

But she still wasn't happy.
Still didn’t feel quite right.
Another girl was always better.
Or if not better, she was.
She hated herself for the negativity
She could never love those for who they were
Nor herself.

No one was beautiful in her eyes.

And everyone lost.

But at least she could think she was perfect
Enough in one area.

Maybe for this one area,
She wouldn't feel so bad
About her mom's beratement and abuse.

Maybe another day of her mom screaming
About her lack of directions or life skills,
She could still fit into her skinny jeans.
Fit into the perfect little girl.
A Kodak moment for show.