SAVANNAH
It was a Saturday morning, the kind that usually meant staying buried under my blankets until noon, maybe even later. Most weekends, I’d sleep in so long that I’d forget what morning air even felt like. But today was different. Today, I had a reason to get up early. Today marked a new beginning.
Sunlight slipped through the blinds and rested gently on my face. I blinked at the ceiling for a few seconds before forcing myself to sit up. I felt oddly energized, maybe from the decision I made yesterday, or maybe from the anticipation of what it could lead to. I got out of bed, pulled on something light and comfortable, then padded barefoot to my mom’s room.
I knocked softly on her door.
"Come in," her voice came, muffled but awake.
I opened the door and stepped inside. She was seated at the edge of the bed, applying lotion to her arms. When she looked up and saw me dressed and ready to go, her brows lifted in surprise.
"You going out?" she asked, setting the bottle aside.
I nodded. "I signed up for a gym yesterday."
Mom knew about the bullying. She knew about the mean notes stuffed in my locker, the whispers behind my back, the photoshopped images that made their rounds on social media. It’s the reason we’d moved so many times. She thought new places would mean new beginnings. But bullies didn’t need reasons—they just needed a target.
We came to this town a year ago. New zip code, same old cruelty.
She stood and walked over to me, gently cupping my face before placing a soft kiss on my forehead.
"Love yourself first, my darling. You don’t need any validation from anyone. Is this what you want?"
Her words sank deep into my chest. They were simple, but powerful.
I smiled and nodded. "Yes, Mom. This is what I want. The past few days—walking home, getting some fresh air, thinking—I realized I can’t keep blaming the world. If I want change, I have to start with me. The doctor may have said I was fine, but I could barely breathe last year. I don’t want to feel like that again. I need to shed some of this weight. I want to feel strong, and I want to feel... proud."
She smiled, and a little shine touched her eyes. "Then go get it. I'm proud of you already."
I hugged her tightly. Her warmth made me feel safe. "I’ll be back before you leave for work. It’s just an hour of training."
"Alright. Don’t push too hard. Start slow."
"I will," I promised, already stepping out.
As the front door closed behind me, I inhaled deeply. The air was crisp, slightly cool. I tightened the drawstring of my hoodie and began my walk. The gym wasn’t far, just three blocks away, but I’d never realized that. For someone who barely stepped out unless it was for school or errands, every sidewalk was uncharted territory.
I kept my head high, arms swinging rhythmically as I walked. For once, I wasn’t worried about who might be staring or judging me. I had a goal now. And goals were louder than doubts.
Just as I turned onto the street with the gym at the end, I heard someone shout my name.
"Savannah!"
I turned instinctively, shielding my eyes from the rising sun.
Tyler.
He was jogging toward me, dressed in black joggers and a grey tee. He looked like something out of a sportswear ad.
"Good morning," he beamed as he reached me.
I blinked at him, confused. "Wait—what are you doing here?"
He grinned wider. "Same place as you. I’m officially your gym partner."
My jaw fell open. "You... signed up too?"
"Yup. Last night. I figured you might need someone to cheer you on. Or someone to make a fool of themselves doing squats so you feel better. Either way, I’m your guy."
A laugh escaped me, genuine, light. He joined in, and for a moment, we just stood there laughing on the sidewalk like we had nothing else to do in the world.
"You didn’t have to do this," I said once I caught my breath.
"I know. But I wanted to. Plus, I’m overdue for a little workout myself. Figured we could both use a fresh start."
I smiled, touched by his kindness. "Thank you, Tyler."
"Anytime, Savvy. Now come on, let’s go make fools of ourselves."
We walked the rest of the way together, talking about everything and nothing. The gym came into view, and my stomach twisted with nerves. But Tyler nudged my shoulder playfully and said, "Hey, you already showed up. That’s the hardest part."
Maybe he was right. Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad after all.
We pushed open the door and stepped inside.