Scarlett despised many facets of her life, and among them, one stood out prominently. The weight of people's expectations bore down upon her, a demand for perfection, regardless of the circumstances.
Perfect grades, an impeccable gait, flawless posture—perfection was the relentless pursuit. Even her smiles had to conform, only smiling with her lips not with her teeth. Every aspect of her appearance was meticulously sculpted, her skin devoid of blemishes. The fact that Scarlett managed to retain her sanity amidst this pressure surprised her, although she chose to ignore the voice inside her head warning of her slow descent into madness. Preferring self-deception, she found solace in the illusion of contentment.
Scarlett knew she was far from a saint, both in her past life as Alison and in her current existence as Scarlett. She selfishly prioritized her own desires, leaving little room for others. Perfect she was not, and anyone who claimed otherwise would be deceiving you.
She couldn't even authentically portray her own trauma, consumed as she was with maintaining the facade of perfection.
Scarlett did not harbor any self-loathing. On the contrary, she possessed an immense love for herself, which some might label as narcissism. Yet, one cannot deny her undeniable beauty. Her eyes, a rich shade of brown, held a captivating allure, while her reddish-silken hair seemed to dance like flames. Her skin, smooth and bronzed, exuded a flawless radiance. Her physique was nothing short of astounding, with curves that accentuated all the right places, and a waist so slender it mirrored an hourglass. Scarlett had no reason to voice any complaints about her appearance or her body to anyone.
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Men would undoubtedly fall at her feet, captivated by her allure. However, beneath this veneer of perfection, Scarlett battled her own mental demons and insecurities. The pursuit of flawlessness had taken its toll on her well-being.
That tiny waist, the product of her relentless efforts to purge herself of every morsel she consumed. Her flawless skin, the result of an extensive array of skincare products, and the harsh scrubbing that left her flesh tinged with redness—a painful sacrifice that somehow brought her solace. Her silky hair, subjected to an excessive array of chemical treatments, had become a ticking time bomb. Premature hair loss seemed an inevitability by the age of twenty-five. Yet, Scarlett paid no mind to such consequences, confident that affordable medical interventions would rectify any future issues, at least within her means.
The pursuit of perfection took a significant toll on her health, even if she refused to acknowledge this reality. Ironically, in her past life as Alison, she had enjoyed robust health, free from concerns about her appearance or how she presented herself. If Alison had not taken her own life, she might have lived to the ripe age of ninety-five, unperturbed by such matters.
So, what changed when she became Scarlett? The truth is, Scarlett was designed to embody this ideal, even if the game failed to explicitly explain how she attained such perfection. Online forums that Alison once perused alluded to Scarlett's struggles with an eating disorder and other health issues. By the time she regained memories of her past life as Alison, it was too late. Breaking free from her unhealthy lifestyle would require a considerable investment of time and effort.
Nevertheless, Scarlett yearned for the day when she could accept herself without the weight of others' opinions clouding her self-perception.