Melody

• April 4th – Present •

"...Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday dear Melody," everyone sang in off-key unison. "Happy birthday to you!"

I sat there in front of my candle lit strawberry shortcake, smiling from ear to ear, as my friends and family sang around me. Of course, Carson, my dad, Leslie, and Mia were here, but so were Alani, Emma, Harvey, Noah, and even Ms. Foster. It was a little odd to have people from school inside my home, but I wanted something small and intimate and it was nice having them here.

"Okay, you have to wish for something big!" Emma said, cuing me to blow out my candles. I closed my eyes and thought of what I wanted – what I truly wanted deep down – and wished with all my might.

***

• 10 Years Later •

I opened my eyes to a white ceiling, the sun's rays bouncing off of them. Below my head was a white cushion, resting atop a grey sofa. I sat up and noticed an empty plate on top of the sleek white coffee table. I must have fallen asleep after lunch. Though it was Saturday, I was working from home, like I did almost every Saturday. Work never really stopped when you were the owner of a fashion company – a body positive one at that. I called it Harmony Couture.

After getting into NYU's art program, I decided to study art and design. Though I took a short break from modelling to get back on my feet, I soon felt strong enough to do it again while studying. I ended up being quite successful in it, especially after a couple large ad campaigns and a few shows in New York Fashion Week. The combination of interests in fashion and art led me to start the company, which became a success – especially with the added bonus of my mother's name attached to it.

My phone buzzed and I reached for it, catching a glimpse of the sparkling ring on my left ring finger. I looked at my phone screen and smiled. It was a message and a photo from Mia. Over the years we had managed to work out our differences and had grown quite close. She'd started going to therapy to deal with her issues surrounding her mother, which helped change her into the kind and funny person I knew she was when we originally met. It was much to our father's delight to see us this close, as he didn't feel like spending time with one of us meant choosing over the other. And the three of us could hang out and have fun. It was amazing to have my father back, and I loved having a sister more than I would have imagined.

Baby Robyn looks so cute in the playsuit you made her!

Thanks again!

Mia Allen; 2:16pm

Baby Robyn. I had a one-year-old niece and sometimes it was still weird to think about. Mia had gotten married two years ago to a nice guy named Liam and had shortly was pregnant with Robyn. Robyn's name was inspired by our dad's and was a perfect mix of Mia and Liam. She was the cutest and I loved spoiling her almost as much as my dad did.

She looks too cute in it!

See you guys at dad's next weekend!

Melody Reese; 2:18pm

I got up and picked up my dirty dishes, taking in my apartment. Keys dangled at the front door and I made a mental correction: our apartment. It had that clean modern look that made it feel fresh and high end. The colour scheme was fairly neutral; greys, whites, nudes and a pop of green here and there with plants and décor. The best part was the view, overlooking the busy streets of Manhattan. My favourite city.

The front door opened and in walked Carson, in his honey, brown-eyed glory. He was wearing loose running pants and a jacket that fit him in all the right places. In his hands were two coffees in to-go cups. I put my plate on the marble counter and hurried over to him as he put the coffees on the front table to take his sneakers off. The moment the coffees were down, I threw myself into his arms and wrapped my legs around his waist.

"Hi," I said.

"Hi beautiful," he laughed, catching me. "I thought I'd be back before you woke up." He gave me a soft kiss the lips before setting me down.

"How'd you know I was sleeping?" I asked.

"You always fall asleep on a Saturday after lunch," Carson laughed. "You answer emails and then take an hour nap." I stuck my tongue out at him.

"Did you go jogging without me?"

"I'm sorry; it was a short one." Carson bent down and took his sneakers off.

"You have practice tonight, right?" I asked. Carson got signed to the New York Knicks while studying at Columbia in Manhattan and has been playing with them ever since.

"I do... I grabbed you a vanilla latte though."

"You're the best," I smiled, grabbing it off of the table. Carson grinned and grabbed his drink, following me into our living room. I didn't have to ask to know it was a chai latte.

"A little Project Runway before I leave you to your work?" Carson asked as I put my drink down on the coffee table. I held my heart dramatically.

"He knows me so well!" I cooed. Carson laughed, use to my shenanigans.

"I'm going to take a quick shower and while you get it set up," he said before disappearing into our room.

Once it was set up, I answered a few more emails on my phone, until my eyes were suddenly covered.

"It's TV time, Mellie!" Carson said. He uncovered my eyes and kissed me on the forehead. He grabbed the light grey, throw blanket off the back of the couch before coming around and sitting down next to me. He was now wearing a t-shirt, and slim-fit black sweatpants.

I crossed my legs as he put the blanket over us both. Carson hit play on our favourite TV show and put his arm around me making me smile. It was everything I could have wished for as a teenager. I was healthy, happy and with Carson. I snuggled into him and rested my head on his chest.

***

• April 4th – Present •

With a soft smile, I blew out the candles and opened my eyes. Everyone around me cheered and broke off into smaller conversations, while Leslie cut the cake into sharable slices. Carson pulled me aside with a gentle tug on the hand. We left everyone in the dining room and stood in my father's office – a once forbidden room, now open and inviting. Carson closed the door.

"What did you wish for?" he asked slyly.

"If I told you it wouldn't come true," I giggled.

"You don't believe that," Carson teased. I narrowed my eyes. "I'll tell you what I wished for..."

"You don't get to wish on my birthday candles!" I laughed, swatting his chest. Carson laughed and caught my hand before putting it against his cheek and leaning so that his lips were at my ear.

"I wished that you'd always be happy." He gave me a kiss by my ear. "And healthy." Another kiss on my cheek. My eyes fluttered closed. "And hopefully with me." He stopped at the corner of my mouth. I released a shaky breath and opened my eyes.

"If I told you, I'd have to kill you," I whispered, repeating one my text messages to him from when we started talking. Carson laughed slightly and began to pull back. With my hand on his cheek, I pulled him close again and pressed my lips to his. He kissed me back until I was out of breath and rested my forehead against his. "Not hopefully with you. Happy, healthy and with you," I said before leaving him there with a shocked expression on his face.

I knew I'd have to work for it, but I was okay with that. There would be days that were harder than others, but there would be days like this too. I would be okay. I would be happy, healthy, and with Carson. I didn't need to be paper thin to be loved, or to be enough. I already was. And even if I forgot it, I always would be.

_____________________

Author's Note: Okay I'm not crying you are. No seriously though, my heart is pounding in my chest and I'm shaking. I cannot believe after years of writing Paper Thin, it's finally at it's end. Like this is it... I don't even have words but here I am typing away. 

I know there have been tough topics discussed in this book and I really hope I did them justice and that in the end you felt hopeful reading this. If anyone of you reading is struggling with an ED, mental illness, or bullying, or anything, I want you to know that you are loved and you are enough. And you are more than what you are going through. 

I want to thank each and everyone of you for reading and being on this journey with me. It means the absolute world to me and is beyond special. I want to thank Optimusly for being here and encouraging me and reading this since day 1 (and literally before). Also my mom is on here AndreaWatson841 ahah so thank you for reading and encouraging me too!

I'm so shook right now and I don't even know what to say. I can't believe this story is over. But again, thank you all for reading and being part of this little world I created. I have so much love for you all.

I'm not sure what I'll write next, but I'm sure it will be something. I hope you'll be there too.

xoxo - Brittany