Beauty? And the Beasts?

Have you ever wondered what it feels like to be rejected… ignored… despised? I have. I’ve courted so many girls before, hoping—just once—that someone would choose me. I memorized the things they liked, saved up for small gifts, and practiced what to say in front of the mirror like a fool who still believed effort could win a heart. But every single time… I was rejected. All except one. She said yes. And out of all people, she was the one who used me for my money… and eventually cheated on me. Funny, right? I let out a bitter laugh, the sound hollow even to my own ears. I was about to turn thirty… and I was still a virgin. Pathetic. At least, that’s what I used to think. Because that was before the day everything changed. --- It was my birthday. No cake. No messages. Just another long shift that drained whatever energy I had left. By the time I stepped out into the dim street, the sky had already darkened, the air heavy and quiet. I walked home slowly, shoulders slumped, replaying the same thoughts I always tried to ignore. Maybe I was just… not meant to be loved. That’s when I saw her. A girl—standing frozen in the middle of the road, eyes wide with fear, as if her body had forgotten how to move. Headlights cut through the darkness. A car was speeding straight toward her. “Hey!” My heart slammed against my chest. My body moved before my mind could catch up. I ran. I didn’t think. I didn’t hesitate. I just… moved. Time seemed to slow as I reached her, grabbing her arm and shoving her out of the way with all the strength I had. For a split second, our eyes met. Then— A blinding light. A deafening impact. --- Before I lost consciousness, one thought crossed my mind. If I were ever given another chance… If I were to be reborn as a girl— I would love my man wholeheartedly. I would never hurt him. Never use him. Never betray him. Because that was all I had ever wanted… …and never received.