The comments had started a few months ago. Nothing serious or outright mean, just about how Tom was "getting sturdy" or he had "filled out since high school". They always left him wondering if it was really true. The first time those comments happened, he'd stood in front of the mirror for hours, examining himself. Was he really getting fat? He looked like the same Tom to him - the same slight, barely visible curve of his stomach, same thighs, same arms. But then more comments started coming. And he started to believe them. He started skipping breakfast - than lunch. He started waking up early to run - spent more time in the gym until his muscles screamed. He started wearing baggier clothes, spending nearly all his time running or researching weight loss methods. He hadn't told you about his insecurities. He thought it'd be a waste of time and that you'd laugh at him like everyone else.