About nine years ago, women were considered to be beautiful if they were as skinny and curvaceous as a toothpick. Any curves on their body were immediately concealed with a corset or something more permanent. But now, many women only want to enhance their curves with a new state-of-the-art surgery. It removes the fat from their stomachs, and rearranges it in their hips, breasts, and butts. Gabby was aware of the new trend that had started only a few months ago, but it took her until now to finally hop on board of the band wagon. 

She was never really much of a follower of trends in the past. She never wore leggings, she thought that they were tacky and unprofessional. She never dyed her hair or used much of social media. She was fluent on Facebook, but not much more than that. She mainly used it to keep up with her friends and family from her youth. She had a much different life in New York City. She was a soon-to-be partner of a law firm that she had devoted much of her early twenties to. Now that she was finally where she wanted to be, the only thing left on her checklist was a husband and family. Although these days it was hard to find a guy that even noticed her. 

It was true that she is naturally very slender. If she turned to the side she would practically disappear. But before now, that was never a problem. Men did not even notice her anymore. She was like a pole that just kept getting in people's way. 

Gabby was supposed to meet her friend, Elizabeth, here. She was a veteran of the surgery. This was going to be her fifth one. The surgery was like the new spa day for women. As she walked into the office, it smelled like medicine and raw meat; not a very comforting smell when you are about to go under the knife. The receptionist, a curvaceous woman who had obviously had the surgery a number of times, told her to sit in the chair and wait for the nurse to call her in. As she turned around to look for her friend, she noticed how large the chairs were. Actually, they were couches, but the women were so big that they could only fit one on a couch.

She quickly spotted Elizabeth in the corner, reading a copy of Cosmopolitan. This issue featured 10 Reasons Why You Need Bigger Hips. The model did not even fit on the entire cover.  She walked over to Elizabeth, aware that she was getting stares from the other women because she was so slim. She had bony figures and a skinny physique. She had to shop at specialty stores because most department stores no longer carried her size. Most of those pants, sizes one through nine, were distributed to the homeless. Pretty soon, 14 was the new 1, and then 18 was the new 14.  

“Hey!” Elizabeth said cheerfully “I was hoping you’d show up. I’m about ready to go in.”

“Are you sure it is safe to have this many surgeries?” Gabby asked

“Oh, don’t you worry, this is totally safe. See here. This is Eudoxie Yao. She started in West Africa, but she became such a hit here. Don’t be nervous Gabby. This is the safest surgery on the planet.” But somehow, Elizabeth’s words of encouragement did not help ease Gabby’s thoughts. She tried to take her mind off of it by watching the news. It was the same things as always: yet another woman had gone missing.

Lots of women began to go missing. Many thought that because they were so big, they could not defend themselves anymore and men were taking advantage of that. But not too long after, women started coming in with their own fat in a plastic bag. They said all I had to do was place it on their hips and breasts. Women started to want to double their pant size. They looked like a little pears from outside the office window. Some even came in two or three times, each time, wanting to be bigger and therefore, better. 

“Where is your bag?” Elizabeth asked, shaking Gabby from her thoughts.

“What?” 

“You know, your bag.” She whispered.

“I don’t know what you are talking about.” 

“Ugh” Elizabeth grunted in annoyance, “Don't  make me say it out loud. Everyone knows to bring their own bag for the doctor’s to use.” Suddenly, it hit Gabby what she was talking about. She looked around the room and saw each woman clutching a lumpy plastic bag. 

“Do you mean to say that people are bringing their own fat?” Gabby asked, not really wanting an answer.

“Well duh,” Elizabeth said mockingly, “how else do you expect the doctor’s to do the surgery? They don’t have enough fat back there for everyone.”  

“Elizabeth, please, tell me honestly, where did you get that fat?” Gabby asked nervously. Elizabeth looked up at the television screen and very slowly pointed to it. On the screen, there was a picture of a woman that had just recently been murdered. They had found her body in a dumpster along with six others. 

“Oh my God!” Gabby whispered in shock.

“Would you like to share some of mine?” Elizabeth asked. I have just enough for you.” She said reaching down into her bag. Gabby looked at her, and then the bag and she reached out her hands to accept her fate. She knew that she could not back out now. She could not stand one more day of women giving her the side eye and men barely even noticing that she was there. 

“Gabby,” a nurse standing in the doorway shook her from her thoughts, “The doctor will see you now. I heard this is your first surgery.” Applause came from around the waiting room and Gabby sheepishly got up from her chair and made her way towards the nurse. 

“Gabby,” Elizabeth called after her, “don't forget your fat bag.” She smiled as she held it out for Gabby. 

“Thanks.” Gabby said timidly. She made her way to the back of the office, hoping to return a new and improved woman of the 22nd century.