Chapter 12: The Rescuer

Dread is the one word to describe going to the doctor. I remember when I was six years old and I broke my foot while playing soccer. My dad took me, and he held my hand the whole time. He was there for me during the X-rays, and he was there when they bandaged my foot. I miss being six years old. My parents were on better speaking terms and I was there the whole world.

Then the agents came and replaced my parents. Freddie became my father figure and came to my appointments. And no one questioned if any of this was normal or healthy.

Dread is what I feel in my body and bones. It rattles me up and trembles my insides. The results of my biopsy will be announced today. I touch my throat and feel the lump. It's as large as a small bouncy ball. It's the ball in my neck, and I want nothing more than it to shrink and leave me alone.

I am Emma Rhodes, the model at Model Perfect. Models must be perfect and show off a glamorous life that doesn't really exist. In an imperfect world, that strive