モンスター

「器量のよくない子でした。それで小さい時から、すごく傷ついていました。友達にいじめられて泣いて帰ってきた時もあります。そんな妹を見ていると、私も悲しくて何度か泣きました。」

Imagine being ugly. 

Not just any old ugly. 

So ugly that people point in the street. 

So ugly you are famous in your town. 

So ugly your classmates are afraid to be associated with you. 

So ugly no employer wants to employ you. 

So ugly nobody wants to touch what you have touched. 

You know you are stronger than petty people's opinions but you just want to be normal. 

Imagine being that ugly and falling in love. If only the guy you liked was blind. Then he could see you for you instead of just judging you on your appearance. If only he was blind... 

If only... 

Your parents disown you and send you far away to fend for yourself. 

And then you discover plastic surgery. 

Suddenly everyone wants to be your friend. You get special discounts in stores. Men tumble over themselves to be with you. Employers employ you and you get rich. 

Why didn't your parents tell you about plastic surgery when you were younger? Then maybe you could've lead a normal life. 

Can the difference in lifestyle for beautiful people and ugly people be so great?

You play along with the fakeness, just taking what you can, occasionally hitting back at people who shunned you in the past because of the way you looked. You get married and aim to be normal. 

You only ever wanted to be normal. 

But. 

Your first love. 

The guy you wished to be blind. 

If only he could see you now. 

If only.

***

Monster; novel by Naoki Hyakuta. 

百田尚樹さんのモンスター: 是非読んでみてください！