Emily rang Laura in a real panic. “Laura! I need your help urgently!” she exclaimed as soon as her friend picked up the phone. Her voice was trembling so badly she barely recognised it herself. There was a dull pounding in her ears, like someone was beating a drum, and it nearly drowned out her own words. “It’s life or death! In two months I need to turn from a plain Jane into a real beauty! The kind no one can stop staring at.”
On the other end there was a long silence. Emily shut her eyes and pictured Laura raising one eyebrow, tilting her head to the side and staring at the phone in clear bewilderment. In her imagination her friend even shook her head slightly, as if trying to process what she’d just heard.
“That’s quite a bold claim!” Laura finally responded. There was genuine amazement in her voice. “In that sort of time… it’s doable in principle, but you’ll have to put in the graft. What’s happened over there?”
Emily nervously ran her hand through her hair long but lacklustre, with split ends that had needed trimming for ages. She smiled wryly to herself at the irony of it all. For five years running Laura had kept bringing up beauty salons and gyms, suggesting they sign up for yoga together or morning jogs, but Emily had always fobbed her off with dozens of reasons why she couldn’t. And now she was the one phoning her friend with a desperate plea, looking for help, ready to take on the very things she’d rejected so many times.
“Remember I was chatting to that bloke on the dating website?” Emily began, trying to sound calm and even, but the nerves still came through making her voice a touch shaky. She took a small breath like she was summoning up courage and carried on: “We’d been messaging for quite a while, everything was going really well… Then he suggested we meet in person.”
“Which one was that?” Laura chuckled, and Emily could picture her ironic smile. Her friend always gently teased her about her endless attempts to find the perfect man through the internet. Laura didn’t hide that she was pretty doubtful about online dating and would often jokingly ask if Emily was thinking of setting up a prince-hunting agency. Emily’s profile photo had been quite heavily edited with Photoshop, something Laura knew perfectly well and would softly hint now and again that the truth would come out in the end. But Emily would just brush it off: “Oh come on, it’s not like we’re ever actually going to meet.”
“It’s Liam, the tall blond with blue eyes!” Emily explained hurriedly. “I remember you liked him as well. You even said he had a nice smile and an intelligent look.”
“Oh, him,” Laura’s voice sounded a bit strange, slightly muffled, as if she’d moved the phone away. But Emily, caught up in her anxiety and the flood of her own thoughts, didn’t pay it any mind. “Yeah, I remember. So what?”
“He’s promised to come for the Christmas holidays!” Emily blurted out, and the words flowed out in one long stream, like she’d been keeping them bottled up and now couldn’t stop. “In two months! Can you imagine? We’ve talked so much, discussed everything… I don’t want to see contempt in his eyes when he meets me. I look so different in the photos… my figure isn’t right, my hair isn’t that shiny, and everything else…”
Emily could almost physically feel the seconds dragging on endlessly, and every moment without a reply made her more worried. She wanted Laura to say right away: “Don’t worry, it’ll all be fine!” but her friend was quiet, and that silence made her heart pound harder.
“Why did you say yes to meeting?” Laura finally asked sceptically. She’d never hidden the fact that she viewed online dating, to put it mildly, negatively. Who knows what sort of person is hiding behind the photo?
“He was really insistent…” Emily admitted quietly, dropping her eyes even though Laura couldn’t see. To be honest, she felt ashamed that she’d agreed so readily without thinking about what might happen. “We’d been messaging for ages, he was so attentive, asked loads of questions… Then all of a sudden he wrote that he really wants to meet face to face, that he likes me a lot, and he wants to find out if something serious could happen between us. I spent a few days thinking it over, weighing it up, but in the end… I just couldn’t turn him down.”
She fell silent, nervously biting her lips. Liam had written that he’d been searching for exactly that kind of person to chat with, that it was easy and interesting with her. And the longer they messaged, the more Emily found herself thinking: what if they really were meant for each other?
“Well you’d better prepare yourself then,” her friend sighed, and Emily caught a mix of resolve and slight worry in that sigh. Laura was always the one who took control of the situation, even if it seemed almost impossible. “It’ll be tough! Two months is quite a short time, but we’ll do our best to make it. You’ll just have to take a couple of weeks off at first your muscles will be really sore after the hard training.”
“Training?” Emily repeated, feeling a wave of mild panic rising inside. “You mean the gym?”
“The gym, and proper eating, and taking care of yourself,” Laura listed calmly, as if she was just going through a normal shopping list. “Without a proper all-round approach nothing will come of it. You don’t want him to see the same Emily in two months, just with a bit of touch-up, do you?”
Emily stayed quiet, digesting what she’d heard. The idea of the gym brought up mixed feelings on the one hand she understood it was necessary, on the other she pictured endless hours on the treadmill and heavy dumbbells, and it made her feel queasy.
“What if… what if I can’t cope?” she asked quietly, surprising herself at how helpless the words sounded.
“You will,” Laura answered firmly. “I’ll help you. But you need to be ready to work. Seriously work! There’s no such thing as magic, Emily. Nothing happens at the snap of a finger, you always have to put in some effort.”
Emily breathed in deeply, clenched her fists and told herself mentally: “Alright. I’ll give it a try. At least so I don’t let him down.”
The first few weeks were really hard for Emily so hard that at times she felt like she wouldn’t manage and would quit the very next day. Every morning started the same: the alarm rang at 7:00, and the first thing Emily felt was a sharp reluctance to get up. She’d lie there staring at the ceiling, persuading herself to get up at least five minutes earlier than yesterday.
At first the exercises only lasted five minutes simple bends, arm swings, light squats. Emily did them in front of the mirror, struggling to recognise herself: face still sleepy, hair tangled, movements sluggish. But Laura strictly kept to the schedule: “Tomorrow ten minutes. We’ll gradually increase the load.”
It wasn’t easy: her body ached after every workout, muscles burning, especially the day after. Sometimes when climbing the stairs she’d feel her legs trembling, and her arms would refuse to even lift a cup of tea. But Laura didn’t let her relax she was always there, either on the phone or in person, and her voice sounded firm, without a hint of doubt:
“You can do more,” she’d repeat, watching as Emily, sweating heavily, tried to complete the next exercise. “Just do one more set. We’ve still got a whole month in hand we’ll manage to tighten up what we need.”
Emily gritted her teeth, took a deep breath and forced herself to continue. Sometimes she wanted to throw it all away, go back to her usual routine lounge in bed longer, eat something tasty, forget about these endless exercises. But she’d remember the messages with Liam, his warm texts, his promise to come for the holidays and that kept her from slipping up.
Her eating habits had to be completely overhauled as well. Before her breakfast was a tasty muffin with coffee or a chocolate bar if she was short on time. Now on the table there were salads with olive oil, grilled chicken breast, brown rice and green smoothies that Emily could hardly get down at first. In the early days she’d keep reaching for the biscuit tin, her hand going for the familiar packet, but every time Emily would stop herself. Liam’s blue eyes would flash before her, his smile in the photo, his words: “Really looking forward to our meeting.”
“It’s only for two months,” she’d convince herself, washing down another salad with still water. “Just for two months.”
Little by little the new habits began to become part of life. Emily learned to cook simple but healthy dishes, found a few smoothie recipes that didn’t turn her off. She noticed that it was easier to get up in the mornings, and by midday the usual tiredness didn’t hit her. Sometimes, looking in the mirror, she’d see how her skin had tightened a bit, how a light flush had appeared not from nerves, but from regular physical activity.
Laura continued to oversee the process, but now there was more approval in her voice:
“See, it’s coming together. You’re not the same as you were a month ago. A bit more and you’ll be in great shape.”
Emily nodded, but inside the worry still lived on: would these changes be enough? Would it be enough for Liam not to be disappointed? She didn’t know the answer, but she kept moving forward step by step, day by day.
Alongside the training and diet changes came painstaking work on her appearance. Laura, who had taken on the role of tireless supervisor, had planned ahead and booked Emily into a good beauty salon not posh, but with experienced stylists who knew how to work with different types of looks.
On the first visit they gave Emily a haircut, carefully choosing the shape based on her facial features and hair structure. The stylist handled the scissors deftly, stepping back occasionally to assess the result, and gently corrected the lines. The split ends disappeared without a trace. The hairdresser added volume at the roots and lightly feathered the ends her hair immediately looked so much better. Then came a gentle colouring: instead of a sharp contrast they chose a soft gradient technique, thanks to which the colour became deeper and richer while keeping it natural.
Next the manicurist tidied up her nails neatly dealt with the cuticles, evened the shape and coated the nails with a soft beige polish. Emily couldn’t help but admire the result: her hands looked well-groomed, but without any over-the-top flashiness.
The makeup artist, who Laura’s friends had recommended, started with a detailed analysis of Emily’s type. He carefully studied her features, assessed her skin tone and eye colour, and then demonstrated how to bring out her best points with makeup. Everything was done delicately: light foundation, slightly defined brows, unobtrusive mascara and natural blush. The specialist patiently explained which products were best to use and in what order to apply them, occasionally suggesting Emily try the techniques herself.
“Look how beautiful you are!” Laura said admiringly, examining her friend after another transformation. There was genuine pleasure in her voice, as if she was proud not only of the result but also that she’d managed to inspire Emily to make changes.
Emily slowly approached the large mirror in the salon and stood still. She gazed at her reflection for a long time, trying to grasp that this was really her. Before her stood a woman she barely recognised: a neat hairstyle that gave her face more expression, light makeup that highlighted her eyes and the freshness of her skin, and the outfit Laura had chosen simple but stylish that flattered her figure nicely. This wasn’t the Emily who for years had preferred stretched-out jumpers and trainers, hiding behind loose silhouettes and trying not to attract extra attention.
Gradually the new images became habit. Emily learned to choose things that fitted her figure but didn’t restrict her movements, mastered basic skincare and simple daily makeup. She noticed that people smiled at her more often on the street, and colleagues would involuntarily linger with their gaze when she walked into the office.
But the hardest thing turned out not to be the physical transformation, but the inner readjustment. Emily took a long time to get used to being looked at differently. Before she’d deliberately avoided other people’s glances, dropped her eyes when talking, slouched, trying to seem smaller. Now she had to learn to keep her back straight, look the person she was talking to in the eye and respond to attention with a light, confident smile.
At first this was difficult. In the first days after changing her image Emily would catch herself trying to hide pulling down her sleeve to cover up the neat manicure, adjusting her hair as if trying to cover her face, or hurrying to move away if someone was looking at her for too long. But Laura patiently reminded her:
“You look fantastic. Don’t hide away. People are just noticing your beauty and that’s perfectly normal.”
Over time Emily started to feel more confident. She noticed that even her voice sounded different a bit firmer, without the old timid uncertainty. And although there were still islands of doubt inside, she tried to focus on what was working the compliments from colleagues, the warm looks from passers-by, how easy it was now to pick clothes and look after herself.
“You need to believe in yourself,” Laura kept repeating. “You’re beautiful, and people see that. We’ve got enough time for you to get used to the new image.”
One morning, as Emily was walking along the corridor to her desk, Kate from accounts called out to her. She smiled broadly and said with genuine delight:
“Emily, you look amazing! Something about you has changed I can’t even say exactly what, but it looks incredible!”
Emily blushed slightly and hurried to reply:
“Oh it’s nothing special, I just updated my wardrobe a bit…”
But Kate didn’t let her finish:
“No, it’s not just the clothes! You seem so much fresher somehow. Your eyes are sparkling, your walk is different. It really suits you!”
That same day Mark from the sales department came up to her. He was always known for mixing compliments with a light joke, so when he met Emily by the coffee machine, he smiled and winked:
“What’s this wonder? You look like you’re glowing from within. Share the secret maybe we should change something too?”
Emily smiled awkwardly, feeling her cheeks warm. It was nice to hear kind words, even though she still wasn’t used to that sort of attention. Before colleagues had barely noticed her presence, but now they kept stopping to exchange a few words or just smile.
She began to notice other changes too. In the cafe nearby the waiters started saying hello to her by name, and strangers walking past would throw interested looks and smile. Emily caught these fleeting signs of attention and each time wondered to herself was this really all happening to her?
Ben from the neighbouring department was especially active. Before they’d barely exchanged greetings, but now he constantly found reasons to talk to her. He’d ask about a new project, or enquire how she’d spent the weekend, or suggest they go for lunch together.
One day during a break he came to her desk with a cup of coffee and casually asked:
“You’ve got great taste. Where do you buy things like this? This jacket looks really stylish.”
Emily ran her hand over the soft fabric without thinking, remembering how Laura had helped her choose this outfit. She smiled and replied:
“Actually, I haven’t worn it for ages I just decided to give it a second chance.”
Ben nodded, but didn’t hurry to leave:
“You know, you look completely different now. More confident, sort of. That’s great.”
Emily thanked him for the compliment, but in her head she was still turning over thoughts about Liam. She imagined how he would arrive, see her and not be able to take his eyes off her. In these fantasies he smiled, said something warm, noted how she’d changed. This thought supported her in the most difficult moments for example when after a hard workout her body ached from tiredness or when she wanted to abandon the diet and eat something off-limits.
Sometimes, lying in bed in the evening, Emily would ask herself what if Liam didn’t appreciate all her efforts? But she’d push those doubts away immediately. The main thing was she’d already felt how her attitude towards herself was changing. And even though there was still a lot of work ahead, she wasn’t that girl who hid behind shapeless clothes and avoided looks anymore. Now she was learning to accept attention, respond to smiles and believe that all these changes were not just for someone else, but for herself first and foremost.
Laura watched her friend with a slight smile, noticing every change in Emily without her realising. She saw how she stood straighter now, how confidently she entered rooms, how calmly she looked people in the eye. There was a lightness in Emily’s movements, firmness in her voice, and that sparkle in her eyes that hadn’t been there before.
Every time she met her friend, Laura couldn’t help comparing her to the image from a couple of months earlier. Back then Emily was like she was hidden in her own shell: slouching, speaking quietly, avoiding attention. Now it was as if she’d spread her wings and this transformation pleased Laura to the depths of her soul.
She took pleasure in noticing how Emily chose brighter colours in her clothes more often, how skilfully she picked accessories, how effortlessly she kept up conversations with colleagues. Especially touching was how her friend was gradually learning to accept compliments at first she’d awkwardly brush them off, then smile gratefully, and now she could easily reply with a joke or a warm word.
Deep in her soul Laura felt mixed emotions. On one hand she was overflowing with pride after all she’d put in a great deal of effort to push Emily towards these changes. She remembered all their conversations, all the persuading, all the joint trips to shops and salons. Seeing the result of her work was incredibly satisfying.
On the other hand, she couldn’t shake a slight unease. After all, the whole story with Liam had been her idea from the beginning. What’s more, there was no Liam at all Emily had been chatting with her the whole time! Laura simply couldn’t bear to see her friend wasting her life any longer, so she’d decided on this not entirely proper step. What if the fact that Liam didn’t turn up for the meeting destroyed all the progress and Emily retreated back into her “shell”?
Though no, there could be no question of that! Laura would make sure of it!
A week before the planned meeting with Liam Emily stood in front of the mirror in her room and carefully examined her reflection. She studied each feature for a long time, trying to see what Laura kept insisting on. No, Emily still didn’t consider herself a beauty in her mind the ideal was much more unattainable. But now, looking at herself, she saw a woman who wasn’t ashamed to appear in public.
She ran her hand over her shoulder, adjusted the collar of her blouse and turned slightly to look at herself from the side. The thought circled in her head: “Is this really me?”
At that moment Laura came into the room. She stopped in the doorway, smiling as she watched her friend, and then said confidently:
“You’re ready. He’ll be over the moon. You’ve had a whole two months to get used to the new you and you’ve managed it.”
Emily nodded, but she thought she heard a strange note in her friend’s voice barely detectable, as if Laura wanted to add something but held back. Emily had already opened her mouth to ask what was wrong, but she didn’t get the chance the phone in her pocket vibrated.
She took out the smartphone, unlocked the screen and saw a message from Liam. She read it once, then again, as if hoping the meaning would change. But the text remained the same: “Sorry, but I won’t be able to make it. Circumstances have changed. We’ll meet up some other time.”
Emily read it several times, trying to take it in. How could that be! She’d put in so much effort for this meeting and it was all for nothing?
“What happened?” Laura asked alertly, noticing how her friend’s face had changed.
“He’s not coming,” Emily replied quietly, showing her the phone screen. “He says we’ll meet up some time later…”
Her friend paused for a second, as if trying to find the right words. Then she took a deep breath and sat down next to her, gently placing a hand on Emily’s shoulder. Something fleeting flickered in her eyes either regret or relief but she quickly pulled herself together.
“You know,” Laura said softly, almost in a whisper, “maybe it’s for the best.”
“For the best?” Emily looked up at her in surprise, a mix of bewilderment and confusion in her eyes. “Why do you say that?”
“Because over these two months you’ve become completely different,” Laura smiled, and there was genuine pride in her voice. “You’ve gained confidence, learned to take care of yourself, brought out your beauty. You don’t hide anymore, you don’t doubt every step, you’re not afraid to look people in the eye. You’ve learned to value yourself.”
She made a small pause, giving Emily time to absorb the words, and then continued:
“And you know what? Now you know for sure: you deserve the very best. Not some Liam from the internet, but real happiness. The kind that doesn’t just vanish one day because of ‘circumstances’. You deserve someone who will truly value you, not disappear without explanation.”
Emily listened silently, taking it all in. A new picture was gradually forming in her head: yes, Liam wasn’t coming, yes, their chatting had ended just as suddenly as it had begun. But over these two months something more had happened she herself had changed. Changed very much!
Laura squeezed her shoulder lightly and added:
“Let’s not go anywhere today. We’ll order pizza, put on your favourite series and just relax. Tomorrow we’ll start a new chapter. You’ll be fine, I know.”
Emily nodded slowly.
“You know,” she said, turning to her friend, and there was an unfamiliar firmness in her voice, “I think I’ll go to the theatre with Ben. He’s been inviting me for ages.”
Laura laughed lightly, joyfully, as if she’d heard exactly what she’d been hoping for. She stepped forward and gave Emily a tight hug, pulling her close.
“That’s my girl!” she exclaimed, pulling back and looking at her friend with pride. “I knew you’d manage. And you know what? I’m sure this is only the beginning.”
Emily nodded, feeling a light sense of anticipation growing inside. She didn’t know what awaited her tomorrow, but for the first time in a long while she was ready to find out.
That evening Emily stood in front of the theatre in a new dress she’d bought specially for the occasion. She adjusted a strand of hair, automatically checked that her makeup was all in order, and felt the excitement growing inside.
At that moment Ben approached her. In his hands he held a beautiful bouquet of red roses:
“You look absolutely stunning.”
She smiled in response, and this time the smile came out natural, without the slightest tension. Emily suddenly realised that for the first time in a long while she felt truly beautiful not because someone had said so, not because of someone else’s gaze, but because she’d decided so herself. She saw her reflection in the glass doors of the theatre, noticed how the light fell softly on her dress, how neatly her hair was arranged, and understood: this was her choice, her style, her confidence.
The play turned out to be wonderful dynamic, with subtle humour and unexpected plot twists. Emily and Ben sat next to each other, exchanging short remarks from time to time, laughing at the same moments, and afterwards discussed the production, sharing their impressions. They talked about how the actors performed, which scenes made the biggest impression, and even argued a little about the interpretation of the ending. The conversation flowed easily, without any awkwardness, and Emily felt that it was nice to listen to Ben, nice to reply to him, nice just to be there with him.
When the play ended, Ben suggested they continue the evening. He looked at her with a slight smile and asked:
“Fancy a walk? The evening’s so nice.”
Emily agreed without a second thought. They went outside, where the street lights were already on, and the air was filled with coolness and the quiet noise of the night city. They walked unhurriedly, not rushing anywhere, just enjoying the moment.
As they made their way deeper into the cosy streets, Emily felt a new sensation being born inside a sense of freedom. She was no longer that girl who hid from the world behind baggy clothes and a lowered gaze. Now she could walk down the street without fearing other people’s looks, she could smile at strangers, she could allow herself to enjoy the moment without looking back at the past. She was herself real, alive, confident.
They stopped at a small square, where a few visitors were still sitting on the benches, and the air smelled of freshness and distant notes of autumn leaves. Emily turned to Ben and said, surprising even herself:
“Thank you.”
“For what?” he asked in surprise, slightly raising his eyebrows.
“For a wonderful evening and lovely company,” she answered simply, smiling gently. “I haven’t enjoyed myself like this for ages.”
Laura was watching this scene from afar. She stood in the shade of the trees, a little distance away, and didn’t hurry to approach. She wanted to just see how Emily was feeling at that moment, to make sure everything was going well. When she noticed how her friend was smiling at Ben, how relaxed she seemed, how her face was glowing, Laura smiled quietly to herself and slipped away unnoticed.
On the way home she stopped at a small cafe. Settling by the window, she ordered a cappuccino and took out her phone. In the gallery there were several photos of Emily before and after. The first ones showed that “old” Emily: with dull hair, in shapeless clothes, with her gaze lowered, as if she was trying to become invisible. The later ones confident, radiant, with a light smile and direct gaze, with proud posture and sparkle in her eyes.
Laura scrolled through the photos, pausing on the last one the one where Emily was standing in front of the theatre in her new dress, and Ben next to her with the bouquet. She looked at this photo for a long time, and one simple thought ran through her head: “She’s really come into her own.”
And at that moment Laura realised she didn’t need to explain anything. She didn’t need to confess that Liam was her invention. Because the result was more important than the original intention. Emily was different now. She’d learned to value herself, believe in her own strength, enjoy the small things. And that was the most important thing…
Three months went by. In that time Emily’s life had changed noticeably, and these changes had become part of her daily routine, not just a temporary experiment. She and Ben were now seeing each other seriously not just occasionally going on dates, but building a relationship, getting to know each other, sharing habits and little joys.
They often went to the cinema, choosing either art films or light comedies depending on their mood. After the film they’d usually walk around the city, chatting leisurely about the plot, the acting or just sharing impressions of what they’d seen. Sometimes they’d pop into cosy cafes, where they’d have tea with desserts and talk about everything under the sun: childhood, work, dreams and plans.
At weekends they often cooked together. Emily loved experimenting with recipes, and Ben was happy to help. The kitchen was always lively and fun: they’d laugh at small mishaps (like a burnt piece of toast or an oversalted sauce), sing along to the music on the radio and enjoy the process. They’d eat the finished meals at a small table by the window, discussing the day that had passed and making plans for the future.
Ben turned out to be exactly the person Emily had been missing for so long. He was attentive he noticed the slightest changes in her mood, knew how to support her with a kind word or just be there silently when it was needed. Kind he never made sarcastic remarks, never tried to hurt, even in jokes he stayed considerate. He was just there and that was enough to make Emily feel comfortable and secure.
A year later Emily stood in front of a large mirror in a bright fitting room, carefully examining her reflection in a wedding dress. The dress was exactly as she’d dreamed: with delicate lace inserts, a neat silhouette and a light flowing skirt. It flattered her figure but didn’t restrict her movements, and the soft pastel shade perfectly matched her skin tone.
Laura was bustling about next to her she’d arrived early to help with the final preparations. Her friend carefully adjusted the veil, made sure all the hairpins were in place, and stepped back to assess the overall look once more. A warm smile blossomed on her face.
“You look stunning,” she whispered, and there was genuine sincerity in her voice. “Just incredible.”
Emily slowly turned to her friend. There was quiet joy in her eyes, mixed with a touch of nervousness. She took a deep breath, trying to calm the flutter in her chest, and replied:
“Thank you. For everything.”
These two words contained so much more than simple gratitude for a compliment. They held appreciation for the months of support, for the patience, for the moments when Laura found the right words to encourage her, and for always being there even when Emily doubted herself.
At that moment Ben appeared in the doorway of the fitting room. He paused for a second on the threshold, as if afraid to disturb this quiet, light-filled scene. His gaze slid over Emily, lingered on her face, and a smile appeared on his lips warm, sincere, the kind that always made Emily catch her breath.
“You’re the most beautiful woman in the world,” he said, stepping closer. There was no trace of pretence in his voice, only pure admiration and tenderness.
Emily felt her heart fill with warmth. She reached out her hand, and Ben immediately took her palm in his strong, reliable. His touch calmed her, carried away the last remnants of anxiety.
Emily gently squeezed Ben’s fingers, feeling a calm, deep happiness spreading inside. She knew she was loved not for her appearance, not for the changes that had happened over the last year, but for who she really was. For her laughter, for her dreams, for her ability to be there, for her sincerity and kindness.
Laura quietly moved to the side, watching this couple with a slight smile. She didn’t want to intrude on their moment, only quietly wiped away a tear, happy for her friend. Everything had worked out exactly as it was supposed to.Emily rang Laura in a real panic. “Laura! I need your help urgently!” she exclaimed as soon as her friend picked up the phone. Her voice was trembling so badly she barely recognised it herself. There was a dull pounding in her ears, like someone was beating a drum, and it nearly drowned out her own words. “It’s life or death! In two months I need to turn from a plain Jane into a real beauty! The kind no one can stop staring at.”
On the other end there was a long silence. Emily shut her eyes and pictured Laura raising one eyebrow, tilting her head to the side and staring at the phone in clear bewilderment. In her imagination her friend even shook her head slightly, as if trying to process what she’d just heard.
“That’s quite a bold claim!” Laura finally responded. There was genuine amazement in her voice. “In that sort of time… it’s doable in principle, but you’ll have to put in the graft. What’s happened over there?”
Emily nervously ran her hand through her hair long but lacklustre, with split ends that had needed trimming for ages. She smiled wryly to herself at the irony of it all. For five years running Laura had kept bringing up beauty salons and gyms, suggesting they sign up for yoga together or morning jogs, but Emily had always fobbed her off with dozens of reasons why she couldn’t. And now she was the one phoning her friend with a desperate plea, looking for help, ready to take on the very things she’d rejected so many times.
“Remember I was chatting to that bloke on the dating website?” Emily began, trying to sound calm and even, but the nerves still came through making her voice a touch shaky. She took a small breath like she was summoning up courage and carried on: “We’d been messaging for quite a while, everything was going really well… Then he suggested we meet in person.”
“Which one was that?” Laura chuckled, and Emily could picture her ironic smile. Her friend always gently teased her about her endless attempts to find the perfect man through the internet. Laura didn’t hide that she was pretty doubtful about online dating and would often jokingly ask if Emily was thinking of setting up a prince-hunting agency. Emily’s profile photo had been quite heavily edited with Photoshop, something Laura knew perfectly well and would softly hint now and again that the truth would come out in the end. But Emily would just brush it off: “Oh come on, it’s not like we’re ever actually going to meet.”
“It’s Liam, the tall blond with blue eyes!” Emily explained hurriedly. “I remember you liked him as well. You even said he had a nice smile and an intelligent look.”
“Oh, him,” Laura’s voice sounded a bit strange, slightly muffled, as if she’d moved the phone away. But Emily, caught up in her anxiety and the flood of her own thoughts, didn’t pay it any mind. “Yeah, I remember. So what?”
“He’s promised to come for the Christmas holidays!” Emily blurted out, and the words flowed out in one long stream, like she’d been keeping them bottled up and now couldn’t stop. “In two months! Can you imagine? We’ve talked so much, discussed everything… I don’t want to see contempt in his eyes when he meets me. I look so different in the photos… my figure isn’t right, my hair isn’t that shiny, and everything else…”
Emily could almost physically feel the seconds dragging on endlessly, and every moment without a reply made her more worried. She wanted Laura to say right away: “Don’t worry, it’ll all be fine!” but her friend was quiet, and that silence made her heart pound harder.
“Why did you say yes to meeting?” Laura finally asked sceptically. She’d never hidden the fact that she viewed online dating, to put it mildly, negatively. Who knows what sort of person is hiding behind the photo?
“He was really insistent…” Emily admitted quietly, dropping her eyes even though Laura couldn’t see. To be honest, she felt ashamed that she’d agreed so readily without thinking about what might happen. “We’d been messaging for ages, he was so attentive, asked loads of questions… Then all of a sudden he wrote that he really wants to meet face to face, that he likes me a lot, and he wants to find out if something serious could happen between us. I spent a few days thinking it over, weighing it up, but in the end… I just couldn’t turn him down.”
She fell silent, nervously biting her lips. Liam had written that he’d been searching for exactly that kind of person to chat with, that it was easy and interesting with her. And the longer they messaged, the more Emily found herself thinking: what if they really were meant for each other?
“Well you’d better prepare yourself then,” her friend sighed, and Emily caught a mix of resolve and slight worry in that sigh. Laura was always the one who took control of the situation, even if it seemed almost impossible. “It’ll be tough! Two months is quite a short time, but we’ll do our best to make it. You’ll just have to take a couple of weeks off at first your muscles will be really sore after the hard training.”
“Training?” Emily repeated, feeling a wave of mild panic rising inside. “You mean the gym?”
“The gym, and proper eating, and taking care of yourself,” Laura listed calmly, as if she was just going through a normal shopping list. “Without a proper all-round approach nothing will come of it. You don’t want him to see the same Emily in two months, just with a bit of touch-up, do you?”
Emily stayed quiet, digesting what she’d heard. The idea of the gym brought up mixed feelings on the one hand she understood it was necessary, on the other she pictured endless hours on the treadmill and heavy dumbbells, and it made her feel queasy.
“What if… what if I can’t cope?” she asked quietly, surprising herself at how helpless the words sounded.
“You will,” Laura answered firmly. “I’ll help you. But you need to be ready to work. Seriously work! There’s no such thing as magic, Emily. Nothing happens at the snap of a finger, you always have to put in some effort.”
Emily breathed in deeply, clenched her fists and told herself mentally: “Alright. I’ll give it a try. At least so I don’t let him down.”
The first few weeks were really hard for Emily so hard that at times she felt like she wouldn’t manage and would quit the very next day. Every morning started the same: the alarm rang at 7:00, and the first thing Emily felt was a sharp reluctance to get up. She’d lie there staring at the ceiling, persuading herself to get up at least five minutes earlier than yesterday.
At first the exercises only lasted five minutes simple bends, arm swings, light squats. Emily did them in front of the mirror, struggling to recognise herself: face still sleepy, hair tangled, movements sluggish. But Laura strictly kept to the schedule: “Tomorrow ten minutes. We’ll gradually increase the load.”
It wasn’t easy: her body ached after every workout, muscles burning, especially the day after. Sometimes when climbing the stairs she’d feel her legs trembling, and her arms would refuse to even lift a cup of tea. But Laura didn’t let her relax she was always there, either on the phone or in person, and her voice sounded firm, without a hint of doubt:
“You can do more,” she’d repeat, watching as Emily, sweating heavily, tried to complete the next exercise. “Just do one more set. We’ve still got a whole month in hand we’ll manage to tighten up what we need.”
Emily gritted her teeth, took a deep breath and forced herself to continue. Sometimes she wanted to throw it all away, go back to her usual routine lounge in bed longer, eat something tasty, forget about these endless exercises. But she’d remember the messages with Liam, his warm texts, his promise to come for the holidays and that kept her from slipping up.
Her eating habits had to be completely overhauled as well. Before her breakfast was a tasty muffin with coffee or a chocolate bar if she was short on time. Now on the table there were salads with olive oil, grilled chicken breast, brown rice and green smoothies that Emily could hardly get down at first. In the early days she’d keep reaching for the biscuit tin, her hand going for the familiar packet, but every time Emily would stop herself. Liam’s blue eyes would flash before her, his smile in the photo, his words: “Really looking forward to our meeting.”
“It’s only for two months,” she’d convince herself, washing down another salad with still water. “Just for two months.”
Little by little the new habits began to become part of life. Emily learned to cook simple but healthy dishes, found a few smoothie recipes that didn’t turn her off. She noticed that it was easier to get up in the mornings, and by midday the usual tiredness didn’t hit her. Sometimes, looking in the mirror, she’d see how her skin had tightened a bit, how a light flush had appeared not from nerves, but from regular physical activity.
Laura continued to oversee the process, but now there was more approval in her voice:
“See, it’s coming together. You’re not the same as you were a month ago. A bit more and you’ll be in great shape.”
Emily nodded, but inside the worry still lived on: would these changes be enough? Would it be enough for Liam not to be disappointed? She didn’t know the answer, but she kept moving forward step by step, day by day.
Alongside the training and diet changes came painstaking work on her appearance. Laura, who had taken on the role of tireless supervisor, had planned ahead and booked Emily into a good beauty salon not posh, but with experienced stylists who knew how to work with different types of looks.
On the first visit they gave Emily a haircut, carefully choosing the shape based on her facial features and hair structure. The stylist handled the scissors deftly, stepping back occasionally to assess the result, and gently corrected the lines. The split ends disappeared without a trace. The hairdresser added volume at the roots and lightly feathered the ends her hair immediately looked so much better. Then came a gentle colouring: instead of a sharp contrast they chose a soft gradient technique, thanks to which the colour became deeper and richer while keeping it natural.
Next the manicurist tidied up her nails neatly dealt with the cuticles, evened the shape and coated the nails with a soft beige polish. Emily couldn’t help but admire the result: her hands looked well-groomed, but without any over-the-top flashiness.
The makeup artist, who Laura’s friends had recommended, started with a detailed analysis of Emily’s type. He carefully studied her features, assessed her skin tone and eye colour, and then demonstrated how to bring out her best points with makeup. Everything was done delicately: light foundation, slightly defined brows, unobtrusive mascara and natural blush. The specialist patiently explained which products were best to use and in what order to apply them, occasionally suggesting Emily try the techniques herself.
“Look how beautiful you are!” Laura said admiringly, examining her friend after another transformation. There was genuine pleasure in her voice, as if she was proud not only of the result but also that she’d managed to inspire Emily to make changes.
Emily slowly approached the large mirror in the salon and stood still. She gazed at her reflection for a long time, trying to grasp that this was really her. Before her stood a woman she barely recognised: a neat hairstyle that gave her face more expression, light makeup that highlighted her eyes and the freshness of her skin, and the outfit Laura had chosen simple but stylish that flattered her figure nicely. This wasn’t the Emily who for years had preferred stretched-out jumpers and trainers, hiding behind loose silhouettes and trying not to attract extra attention.
Gradually the new images became habit. Emily learned to choose things that fitted her figure but didn’t restrict her movements, mastered basic skincare and simple daily makeup. She noticed that people smiled at her more often on the street, and colleagues would involuntarily linger with their gaze when she walked into the office.
But the hardest thing turned out not to be the physical transformation, but the inner readjustment. Emily took a long time to get used to being looked at differently. Before she’d deliberately avoided other people’s glances, dropped her eyes when talking, slouched, trying to seem smaller. Now she had to learn to keep her back straight, look the person she was talking to in the eye and respond to attention with a light, confident smile.
At first this was difficult. In the first days after changing her image Emily would catch herself trying to hide pulling down her sleeve to cover up the neat manicure, adjusting her hair as if trying to cover her face, or hurrying to move away if someone was looking at her for too long. But Laura patiently reminded her:
“You look fantastic. Don’t hide away. People are just noticing your beauty and that’s perfectly normal.”
Over time Emily started to feel more confident. She noticed that even her voice sounded different a bit firmer, without the old timid uncertainty. And although there were still islands of doubt inside, she tried to focus on what was working the compliments from colleagues, the warm looks from passers-by, how easy it was now to pick clothes and look after herself.
“You need to believe in yourself,” Laura kept repeating. “You’re beautiful, and people see that. We’ve got enough time for you to get used to the new image.”
One morning, as Emily was walking along the corridor to her desk, Kate from accounts called out to her. She smiled broadly and said with genuine delight:
“Emily, you look amazing! Something about you has changed I can’t even say exactly what, but it looks incredible!”
Emily blushed slightly and hurried to reply:
“Oh it’s nothing special, I just updated my wardrobe a bit…”
But Kate didn’t let her finish:
“No, it’s not just the clothes! You seem so much fresher somehow. Your eyes are sparkling, your walk is different. It really suits you!”
That same day Mark from the sales department came up to her. He was always known for mixing compliments with a light joke, so when he met Emily by the coffee machine, he smiled and winked:
“What’s this wonder? You look like you’re glowing from within. Share the secret maybe we should change something too?”
Emily smiled awkwardly, feeling her cheeks warm. It was nice to hear kind words, even though she still wasn’t used to that sort of attention. Before colleagues had barely noticed her presence, but now they kept stopping to exchange a few words or just smile.
She began to notice other changes too. In the cafe nearby the waiters started saying hello to her by name, and strangers walking past would throw interested looks and smile. Emily caught these fleeting signs of attention and each time wondered to herself was this really all happening to her?
Ben from the neighbouring department was especially active. Before they’d barely exchanged greetings, but now he constantly found reasons to talk to her. He’d ask about a new project, or enquire how she’d spent the weekend, or suggest they go for lunch together.
One day during a break he came to her desk with a cup of coffee and casually asked:
“You’ve got great taste. Where do you buy things like this? This jacket looks really stylish.”
Emily ran her hand over the soft fabric without thinking, remembering how Laura had helped her choose this outfit. She smiled and replied:
“Actually, I haven’t worn it for ages I just decided to give it a second chance.”
Ben nodded, but didn’t hurry to leave:
“You know, you look completely different now. More confident, sort of. That’s great.”
Emily thanked him for the compliment, but in her head she was still turning over thoughts about Liam. She imagined how he would arrive, see her and not be able to take his eyes off her. In these fantasies he smiled, said something warm, noted how she’d changed. This thought supported her in the most difficult moments for example when after a hard workout her body ached from tiredness or when she wanted to abandon the diet and eat something off-limits.
Sometimes, lying in bed in the evening, Emily would ask herself what if Liam didn’t appreciate all her efforts? But she’d push those doubts away immediately. The main thing was she’d already felt how her attitude towards herself was changing. And even though there was still a lot of work ahead, she wasn’t that girl who hid behind shapeless clothes and avoided looks anymore. Now she was learning to accept attention, respond to smiles and believe that all these changes were not just for someone else, but for herself first and foremost.
Laura watched her friend with a slight smile, noticing every change in Emily without her realising. She saw how she stood straighter now, how confidently she entered rooms, how calmly she looked people in the eye. There was a lightness in Emily’s movements, firmness in her voice, and that sparkle in her eyes that hadn’t been there before.
Every time she met her friend, Laura couldn’t help comparing her to the image from a couple of months earlier. Back then Emily was like she was hidden in her own shell: slouching, speaking quietly, avoiding attention. Now it was as if she’d spread her wings and this transformation pleased Laura to the depths of her soul.
She took pleasure in noticing how Emily chose brighter colours in her clothes more often, how skilfully she picked accessories, how effortlessly she kept up conversations with colleagues. Especially touching was how her friend was gradually learning to accept compliments at first she’d awkwardly brush them off, then smile gratefully, and now she could easily reply with a joke or a warm word.
Deep in her soul Laura felt mixed emotions. On one hand she was overflowing with pride after all she’d put in a great deal of effort to push Emily towards these changes. She remembered all their conversations, all the persuading, all the joint trips to shops and salons. Seeing the result of her work was incredibly satisfying.
On the other hand, she couldn’t shake a slight unease. After all, the whole story with Liam had been her idea from the beginning. What’s more, there was no Liam at all Emily had been chatting with her the whole time! Laura simply couldn’t bear to see her friend wasting her life any longer, so she’d decided on this not entirely proper step. What if the fact that Liam didn’t turn up for the meeting destroyed all the progress and Emily retreated back into her “shell”?
Though no, there could be no question of that! Laura would make sure of it!
A week before the planned meeting with Liam Emily stood in front of the mirror in her room and carefully examined her reflection. She studied each feature for a long time, trying to see what Laura kept insisting on. No, Emily still didn’t consider herself a beauty in her mind the ideal was much more unattainable. But now, looking at herself, she saw a woman who wasn’t ashamed to appear in public.
She ran her hand over her shoulder, adjusted the collar of her blouse and turned slightly to look at herself from the side. The thought circled in her head: “Is this really me?”
At that moment Laura came into the room. She stopped in the doorway, smiling as she watched her friend, and then said confidently:
“You’re ready. He’ll be over the moon. You’ve had a whole two months to get used to the new you and you’ve managed it.”
Emily nodded, but she thought she heard a strange note in her friend’s voice barely detectable, as if Laura wanted to add something but held back. Emily had already opened her mouth to ask what was wrong, but she didn’t get the chance the phone in her pocket vibrated.
She took out the smartphone, unlocked the screen and saw a message from Liam. She read it once, then again, as if hoping the meaning would change. But the text remained the same: “Sorry, but I won’t be able to make it. Circumstances have changed. We’ll meet up some other time.”
Emily read it several times, trying to take it in. How could that be! She’d put in so much effort for this meeting and it was all for nothing?
“What happened?” Laura asked alertly, noticing how her friend’s face had changed.
“He’s not coming,” Emily replied quietly, showing her the phone screen. “He says we’ll meet up some time later…”
Her friend paused for a second, as if trying to find the right words. Then she took a deep breath and sat down next to her, gently placing a hand on Emily’s shoulder. Something fleeting flickered in her eyes either regret or relief but she quickly pulled herself together.
“You know,” Laura said softly, almost in a whisper, “maybe it’s for the best.”
“For the best?” Emily looked up at her in surprise, a mix of bewilderment and confusion in her eyes. “Why do you say that?”
“Because over these two months you’ve become completely different,” Laura smiled, and there was genuine pride in her voice. “You’ve gained confidence, learned to take care of yourself, brought out your beauty. You don’t hide anymore, you don’t doubt every step, you’re not afraid to look people in the eye. You’ve learned to value yourself.”
She made a small pause, giving Emily time to absorb the words, and then continued:
“And you know what? Now you know for sure: you deserve the very best. Not some Liam from the internet, but real happiness. The kind that doesn’t just vanish one day because of ‘circumstances’. You deserve someone who will truly value you, not disappear without explanation.”
Emily listened silently, taking it all in. A new picture was gradually forming in her head: yes, Liam wasn’t coming, yes, their chatting had ended just as suddenly as it had begun. But over these two months something more had happened she herself had changed. Changed very much!
Laura squeezed her shoulder lightly and added:
“Let’s not go anywhere today. We’ll order pizza, put on your favourite series and just relax. Tomorrow we’ll start a new chapter. You’ll be fine, I know.”
Emily nodded slowly.
“You know,” she said, turning to her friend, and there was an unfamiliar firmness in her voice, “I think I’ll go to the theatre with Ben. He’s been inviting me for ages.”
Laura laughed lightly, joyfully, as if she’d heard exactly what she’d been hoping for. She stepped forward and gave Emily a tight hug, pulling her close.
“That’s my girl!” she exclaimed, pulling back and looking at her friend with pride. “I knew you’d manage. And you know what? I’m sure this is only the beginning.”
Emily nodded, feeling a light sense of anticipation growing inside. She didn’t know what awaited her tomorrow, but for the first time in a long while she was ready to find out.
That evening Emily stood in front of the theatre in a new dress she’d bought specially for the occasion. She adjusted a strand of hair, automatically checked that her makeup was all in order, and felt the excitement growing inside.
At that moment Ben approached her. In his hands he held a beautiful bouquet of red roses:
“You look absolutely stunning.”
She smiled in response, and this time the smile came out natural, without the slightest tension. Emily suddenly realised that for the first time in a long while she felt truly beautiful not because someone had said so, not because of someone else’s gaze, but because she’d decided so herself. She saw her reflection in the glass doors of the theatre, noticed how the light fell softly on her dress, how neatly her hair was arranged, and understood: this was her choice, her style, her confidence.
The play turned out to be wonderful dynamic, with subtle humour and unexpected plot twists. Emily and Ben sat next to each other, exchanging short remarks from time to time, laughing at the same moments, and afterwards discussed the production, sharing their impressions. They talked about how the actors performed, which scenes made the biggest impression, and even argued a little about the interpretation of the ending. The conversation flowed easily, without any awkwardness, and Emily felt that it was nice to listen to Ben, nice to reply to him, nice just to be there with him.
When the play ended, Ben suggested they continue the evening. He looked at her with a slight smile and asked:
“Fancy a walk? The evening’s so nice.”
Emily agreed without a second thought. They went outside, where the street lights were already on, and the air was filled with coolness and the quiet noise of the night city. They walked unhurriedly, not rushing anywhere, just enjoying the moment.
As they made their way deeper into the cosy streets, Emily felt a new sensation being born inside a sense of freedom. She was no longer that girl who hid from the world behind baggy clothes and a lowered gaze. Now she could walk down the street without fearing other people’s looks, she could smile at strangers, she could allow herself to enjoy the moment without looking back at the past. She was herself real, alive, confident.
They stopped at a small square, where a few visitors were still sitting on the benches, and the air smelled of freshness and distant notes of autumn leaves. Emily turned to Ben and said, surprising even herself:
“Thank you.”
“For what?” he asked in surprise, slightly raising his eyebrows.
“For a wonderful evening and lovely company,” she answered simply, smiling gently. “I haven’t enjoyed myself like this for ages.”
Laura was watching this scene from afar. She stood in the shade of the trees, a little distance away, and didn’t hurry to approach. She wanted to just see how Emily was feeling at that moment, to make sure everything was going well. When she noticed how her friend was smiling at Ben, how relaxed she seemed, how her face was glowing, Laura smiled quietly to herself and slipped away unnoticed.
On the way home she stopped at a small cafe. Settling by the window, she ordered a cappuccino and took out her phone. In the gallery there were several photos of Emily before and after. The first ones showed that “old” Emily: with dull hair, in shapeless clothes, with her gaze lowered, as if she was trying to become invisible. The later ones confident, radiant, with a light smile and direct gaze, with proud posture and sparkle in her eyes.
Laura scrolled through the photos, pausing on the last one the one where Emily was standing in front of the theatre in her new dress, and Ben next to her with the bouquet. She looked at this photo for a long time, and one simple thought ran through her head: “She’s really come into her own.”
And at that moment Laura realised she didn’t need to explain anything. She didn’t need to confess that Liam was her invention. Because the result was more important than the original intention. Emily was different now. She’d learned to value herself, believe in her own strength, enjoy the small things. And that was the most important thing…
Three months went by. In that time Emily’s life had changed noticeably, and these changes had become part of her daily routine, not just a temporary experiment. She and Ben were now seeing each other seriously not just occasionally going on dates, but building a relationship, getting to know each other, sharing habits and little joys.
They often went to the cinema, choosing either art films or light comedies depending on their mood. After the film they’d usually walk around the city, chatting leisurely about the plot, the acting or just sharing impressions of what they’d seen. Sometimes they’d pop into cosy cafes, where they’d have tea with desserts and talk about everything under the sun: childhood, work, dreams and plans.
At weekends they often cooked together. Emily loved experimenting with recipes, and Ben was happy to help. The kitchen was always lively and fun: they’d laugh at small mishaps (like a burnt piece of toast or an oversalted sauce), sing along to the music on the radio and enjoy the process. They’d eat the finished meals at a small table by the window, discussing the day that had passed and making plans for the future.
Ben turned out to be exactly the person Emily had been missing for so long. He was attentive he noticed the slightest changes in her mood, knew how to support her with a kind word or just be there silently when it was needed. Kind he never made sarcastic remarks, never tried to hurt, even in jokes he stayed considerate. He was just there and that was enough to make Emily feel comfortable and secure.
A year later Emily stood in front of a large mirror in a bright fitting room, carefully examining her reflection in a wedding dress. The dress was exactly as she’d dreamed: with delicate lace inserts, a neat silhouette and a light flowing skirt. It flattered her figure but didn’t restrict her movements, and the soft pastel shade perfectly matched her skin tone.
Laura was bustling about next to her she’d arrived early to help with the final preparations. Her friend carefully adjusted the veil, made sure all the hairpins were in place, and stepped back to assess the overall look once more. A warm smile blossomed on her face.
“You look stunning,” she whispered, and there was genuine sincerity in her voice. “Just incredible.”
Emily slowly turned to her friend. There was quiet joy in her eyes, mixed with a touch of nervousness. She took a deep breath, trying to calm the flutter in her chest, and replied:
“Thank you. For everything.”
These two words contained so much more than simple gratitude for a compliment. They held appreciation for the months of support, for the patience, for the moments when Laura found the right words to encourage her, and for always being there even when Emily doubted herself.
At that moment Ben appeared in the doorway of the fitting room. He paused for a second on the threshold, as if afraid to disturb this quiet, light-filled scene. His gaze slid over Emily, lingered on her face, and a smile appeared on his lips warm, sincere, the kind that always made Emily catch her breath.
“You’re the most beautiful woman in the world,” he said, stepping closer. There was no trace of pretence in his voice, only pure admiration and tenderness.
Emily felt her heart fill with warmth. She reached out her hand, and Ben immediately took her palm in his strong, reliable. His touch calmed her, carried away the last remnants of anxiety.
Emily gently squeezed Ben’s fingers, feeling a calm, deep happiness spreading inside. She knew she was loved not for her appearance, not for the changes that had happened over the last year, but for who she really was. For her laughter, for her dreams, for her ability to be there, for her sincerity and kindness.
Laura quietly moved to the side, watching this couple with a slight smile. She didn’t want to intrude on their moment, only quietly wiped away a tear, happy for her friend. Everything had worked out exactly as it was supposed to.
