It had been a week since Mayu, emboldened by alcohol during an outing with her colleagues, confessed her insecurities. While some of the women offered her reassurance, others made subtle jabs disguised as concern. The air in the restaurant had felt thick with unspoken judgments as she'd picked at her food, acutely aware of every bite.

That night, back home, she confided in her husband, Akira, about her recent weight gain and asked what he thought. The soft glow of their bedroom lamp cast shadows across his face as she waited nervously for his response. Deep down, she hoped he would reassure her, tell her it was nothing to worry about. Instead, he said, "I think you could drop a few pounds, honey. You'd definitely look much better that way."

Mayu was hurt but tried to stay composed, the sheets suddenly feeling scratchy against her legs. "It's not that bad, right? I mean, it's only a few pounds!"

Akira just laughed, oblivious to how deeply his words had cut her like a dull blade. "Honey, that's how it starts. A few pounds become a few more, and before you know it, you're obese!"

He went to bed after that, but Mayu couldn't sleep. Her mind raced with thoughts, insecurities swirling like a dark storm cloud, but her mama didn't raise no quitter. She was determined to shed the extra weight. One way or another, she was going to lose it.

The very next day, she signed up at a gym. The smell of sweat and disinfectant hit her nostrils as she walked through the doors, everything feeling unfamiliar and intimidating. Thankfully, the trainer was kind and encouraging, assuring her she could ask for help anytime, telling her most people in the gym are friendly and helpful. Still, Mayu felt unsure. Some of the people there looked so intimidating with their perfectly toned bodies and confident movements.

A week passed, and she stuck to her routine. She began with light exercises, gradually getting used to the machines. Now, she was starting to try more challenging workouts.

One day, her trainer, Lia, was teaching her how to do squats. After going over the basics, form, posture, and technique, Lia advised her to stick with bodyweight squats for now before progressing to weights. The gym was bustling with activity around them, the clanking of weights and rhythmic thumping of treadmills creating a constant background noise.

Just then, someone called Lia over for assistance. Before leaving, she turned to the person working out nearby and asked to keep an eye on Mayu, to help her maintain proper form and full range of motion.

As the person approached, Lia quickly introduced the two of them before stepping away. Mayu could feel her heart pounding in her chest, her palms growing slightly sweaty.

Mayu offered a polite smile, her voice barely above a whisper. "Hi! I'll get started... please let me know if I'm doing anything wrong."