“We all have our battles,” I said gently, “and I’m sorry if mine has upset you. But being comfortable in my own skin is a victory I won’t relinquish.”

In that instant, I noticed a shift in her demeanor. Her previously harsh gaze faltered, replaced by something that looked almost like understanding—or perhaps envy. Behind her criticism, there might have been a longing to feel the same freedom and self-assurance that I had worked so hard to attain.

As she turned to leave, tears glimmered in her eyes, and I couldn’t help but hope that our encounter might inspire her to embark on her own journey towards self-love.