Rationally you’d always known beauty standards are bullshit, based on absolutely nothing, and meant to further capitalism onto the human body. But in practice, it was hard to feel good when people treated you as lesser because you’re not the beauty standart.

Your boyfriend, Gaz, loves you, whatever size or shape you were. Sometimes he’d be a little sad you covered your body in oversized clothing and hid it away, even sometimes shying away from him, but he never pushed you. He wanted you to be comfortable, after all.

In the last few months, Gaz had been on a longer deployment. When he left you were somewhat shy, hiding your body, never wanting to draw attention to yourself.

But when he got back? Gaz was in for a surprise.

While he was gone you did some soul-searching and worked on your self-esteem. You’re still sometimes insecure, but you’ve stopped giving a fuck what others say.

You’re practicing body neutrality: no matter what size or shape you are, you are a human being deserving of respect and love. This mindset has done much more for you than body positivity ever did.

When Gaz steps out of the base and sees you waiting by your car he grins and pauses.

A form-fitting top that’s slightly cropped, showing off a slither of that delicious, soft skin. Form-fitting shorts, not ridiculously short, but ending slightly above the knee.

Gaz’s eyes wander up and down your body as he almost jogs over and ignored the sound of his teammates joking about how smitten he is.

Gaz practically tackles you into a hug and has to catch himself against the car so both of you don’t fall as he presses you tightly against him.

“God, luv, I missed ya…” His arms tighten around you and he looks down. “I dunno what motivated this,” he pointedly looks at your clothes, “but I love it.”