The sun is shining and the birds twittering as I walk down the shopping street, but deep down I feel a carping sense of frustration. The bikini season is just around the corner and I don’t have any I can still fit into. My body hasn’t fully recovered from our third child yet and I have no desire to undress in the fitting room and expose myself to some smart little assistant. It’s all guaranteed to end as usual in a rash purchase I’ll never really be happy with. I grumble, annoyed at myself for not being able to wear last year’s bikini. I’ve put it off for a long time; we’re leaving on our holidays tomorrow so I have to do it now.
I enter the lingerie store. My mobile goes off and though it’s against my principles I answer. It delays the confrontation with myself in the mirror that little bit longer. When I end the call, a patient, smiling assistant asks, ‘Would you like me to help you?’ There’s no escape. I have to face up to it.
We find a couple of bikinis that I take to the cubicle. They don’t fit at all of course. It looks to have been a foolish and hopeless endeavour. The assistant mutters something along the lines of ‘I hadn’t noticed that…’ and returns before long with some entirely different models. It helps. Eventually we find a really nice model, so I can face the summer in a good mood. I start putting my own clothes on again when the assistant looks me straight in the yes and says, ‘Can I ask you something?’ She looks serious and considerate, so of course I say yes. ‘Does it bother you that your breasts are not the same size?’
I answer completely honestly, ‘Not anymore. It was a big problem when I was younger, but I’ve got used to it now. I don’t notice anymore.’
‘Can I show you something?’ she continues. Before long I’m wearing a breathtaking bra, which fits like a glove. I’m speechless. Hold on a minute, I look great! I pull my sweater on and see how different it looks. The neckline is straight and my shoulders no longer lopsided. My sweater looks great over the smooth bra. Wow!
By the time I leave the store I am a totally new woman, with my head held high and a completely different perspective on myself and my breasts. For the first time ever, I see it as an advantage. I have a great bosom! I was so happy to be seen as I really was. It was another woman who had the courage to offer her help. She didn’t just ignore the problem, she did something about it.
Rikke