Page 164 of Curvy Girl Summer

Putting his hand on his hip, he didn’t say anything, but he frowned.

“So, not only are these comments unnecessary, but they’re also hypocritical,” I continued. “What I weigh is my business, so stop it!”

“I don’t understand how you don’t see that I’m just looking out for you. You’re thirty now. You ain’t got no prospects for marriage. If you don’t lock something down now—”

“That’s my business!” I yelled, throwing my arms up. Taking a deep breath, I exhaled audibly and calmed myself down. “Uncle Al, my life is mine. How I live my life is my business.”

“I’m just worried about you.”

“You should worry about yourself. I’m fine. There’s nothing for you to worry about.”

“You don’t have no one to take care of you.”

“I can take care of myself.”

He let out a noisy sigh and waved his hand in the air. “That’s what Macy said, too,” he muttered.

“My life isn’t over at thirty. My life doesn’t revolve around me getting married and having children. When I meet the man I want to be with forever, I’ll marry him. Until then, I’m fine.”

“You’re thirty.”

“I would rather choose right the first time than just get with someone because I’m thirty.” I gave him a look. “As someone who has been married three times, I thought you could appreciate that.”

“That’s even more of a reason to listen to me. I asked three women to be my wife. All of them slim—”

“And since their slimness didn’t keep y’all together, I would say your points are irrelevant,” I interrupted.

“But their slimness got them proposed to.” He rubbed his hands together. “I’m just trying to look out for you. You don’t solve problems by ignoring them,” he said earnestly.

“Have you ever considered that I’m not the problem?” I narrowed my eyes at him. “You are.”

“Well, I’ll be!” he exclaimed indignantly. “You—”

“You are the problem. And if you can’t admit that and change the behavior, you’re not welcome at my birthday celebration tonight.”

He looked offended and hurt. “I want the best for you, Aaliyah.” I almost felt bad, and then he opened his mouth again. “And I’m scared being this”—he opened his arms out wide—“big is going to keep you from a good life.”

“Keeping people around me who think like you do is the only thing that’s going to keep me from a good life. So you can keep the yacht—”

“You need a man to be able to drive the yacht anyway.”

I slow blinked. “You’ve got to be kidding me,” I groaned in exasperation.

“You’re being too sensitive.”

“And you’re not being sensitive enough. So like I said, you’re uninvited.” I turned on my heel and made my way down the steps. “Goodbye, Uncle Al.”

“Aaliyah,” he called out. “Don’t be like that. I’m only saying this because I’m worried about you and I care about you.”

Continuing to my car, I ignored him.

By the time I climbed inside and started the engine, he had made his way in the house. I had no doubt he was calling mymother or grandmother to tell them what had happened. And I was completely fine with that. I refused to celebrate my birthday with anyone who tried to make me feel bad about being me.

I reflected on the conversations I had with my family as I took the scenic route to Dowdy Lake. With each passing mile, I realized how much lighter I felt. A weight had been lifted from my shoulders. Saying what needed to be said to my parents and my uncle was the best gift I could’ve given myself. Because in my gut, I knew that no one would ever get in the way of me being me again.

With a huge smile on my face, I exhaled.

I felt a peace I hadn’t felt since before Aniyah died.

---