Emily had been meaning to buy a new swimsuit for weeks. With summer approaching, she finally decided to visit a large sporting goods store nearby. It was a well-known chain, but when she arrived, she noticed the place was undergoing renovations—scaffolding near the entrance, shelves half-empty, and plastic sheets hanging over certain sections of the store. The usual order of things seemed disrupted, giving the store an unfamiliar, slightly chaotic feel.
After browsing for a while, Emily picked out a few swimsuits and made her way toward the fitting rooms. To her surprise, they were barely functional—most stalls had no curtains, just empty frames where they should have been. Confused, she approached a staff member, a woman in her late thirties with a name tag pinned to her polo shirt.
“Excuse me, is this where I try these on?” Emily asked, holding up the swimsuits.
The woman gave an apologetic smile. “We’re in the middle of renovations, so the fitting rooms aren’t really set up. Best thing you could do is try them at home and return what doesn’t fit.”
Emily frowned. “Really? There’s nowhere at all I can try them on?”
The woman hesitated for a moment, but then pointed toward a stall in the far corner. “That one’s still somewhat usable, I suppose... but, you know, it's not that privacy friendly."
Emily followed her gesture and saw a narrow fitting area. Unlike the others, it was slightly larger inside, but it was still far from private—anyone standing at the right angle could catch a glimpse inside. Emily hesitated: it wasn’t ideal, but she really didn’t want to make another trip just to return swimsuits that didn’t fit.
Stepping inside, she took a deep breath and began to undress, leaving her underwear and bra on at first. But once she slipped into the first swimsuit, she realized it was impossible to get a proper fit with them still on. After a moment of hesitation, she removed them, trying on the first swimsuit.
Then, all of a sudden, an awkward realization set in. She realized the mirror was outside the stall. Meanwhile, a large group of both men and women had entered the fitting area, all grumbling about the ongoing renovation that left them unable to properly try on their clothes. Amidst the complaints, someone pointed towards Emily, who was tucked away in the corner.
“What about her?” someone asked.
The staff lady hesitated before responding. “Well, she really wanted to try on some bathing suits.”
Emily cringed, thinking, "Why did she have to mention me?"
The group latched onto the idea. If she was allowed to try something on, why couldn’t they? The staff lady finally gave in, letting them pick whichever cubicle they wanted—indicating none had any curtains. Some women casually swapped tops, others merely tried on jackets, but no one had anything as revealing as a bathing suit.
Emily now froze, making as little eye contact as possible. She knew she still had a few bathing suits to go.
Steeling herself, she decided to step outside to get a better look in the mirror, now wearing a bright white swimsuit. A woman nearby examined her with a critical eye.
“It looks nice on you, honey. Maybe a little small and a bit too high-cut, though.” Emily forced a polite smile.
An older woman shook her head. “In my days, we didn’t have those.” Her disapproving glance lingered.
A few of the husbands had joined their wives, observing the scene with amused expressions. One of them chuckled. “Well, looks like we’ve found another victim of this whole renovation situation, am I right?”
Emily nodded, then turned back to the mirror. The swimsuit actually looked pretty good. She could simply buy it and be done with this whole situation. But then, a thrilling thought crossed her mind—these people didn’t know that.
With a sly smile, she stepped back into the fitting area. Slowly, she began sliding the straps off her shoulders, casting a glance toward the group. The couples stood nearby, pretending not to notice—except for one woman in particular. Emily caught her gaze. There was something in it—a mix of curiosity and silent concern. Was she watching out for her, or was she just intrigued to see how far Emily would go?
Ignoring her, Emily let the swimsuit slip lower, until it hung loosely around her hips. She faced the corner, covering her chest with her hands, then glanced over her shoulder. By now, the entire group had stopped pretending. They were now clearly watching her, waiting for her next move.
“Don’t worry, darling, we’ll give you some privacy,” one of them finally said, turning away.
Emily smiled as she let the swimsuit drop completely. But instead of dressing, she wandered over to the stack of bathing suits, taking her time selecting another one—all while completely naked. She murmured apologies as she reached past customers who were trying not to stare.
After an agonizing pause, she held up a new swimsuit.
Her so-called audience had long finished their own fittings, yet they lingered, still “trying things on,” still offering opinions.
“No, the other one was better. This one’s too flimsy,” said the women. The men were all dead silent, still amazed by the fact Emily had just been changing right in front of their eyes.
Emily hesitated, pretending to consider their input.
“Hmm… I’m not so sure.” She tilted her head. “Maybe I should try the other one again?”
The group exchanged glances. They hadn’t expected her to be this comfortable changing in front of them. And yet, here she was.
"Yes, perhaps you could re-try the other one."
This time, Emily stripped faster than before, and the group of customers was fully aware of her. Other people were looking from a distance, including the store employee, who didn't know what to do.
Emily felt a rush of adrenaline as she stood there, completely exposed, the cool air from the AC above her against her skin. The thrill of the moment was intoxicating, and she could sense the tension in the room shift. The group, initially amused, now seemed captivated by her boldness.
Emily grabbed one of the other swimsuits.
“Really, you still haven't decided?" one of the women finally blurted out, his eyes wide. “You’re actually going to try the other on again?” The other women tried to calm the older woman who noticed her husband staring.
“Why not?” Emily replied, her voice playful. “It’s just a swimsuit, right?"
The other woman who had been watching her as well stepped forward, a hint of admiration in her eyes. “Well, you’re really brave. I wish I had that kind of confidence when I was your age.”
Emily smiled, feeling a surge of empowerment. “It’s all about embracing who you are, right?” She turned back to the mirror, her reflection showing a woman who was now not just trying on swimsuits, but also challenging the norms of modesty.
With a dramatic flair, she slipped back into the bright white swimsuit, the fabric hugging her curves perfectly. She turned to face the group, striking a pose. “What do you think? Is this one better?”
The laughter that erupted was light-hearted, but there was an undercurrent of something more—an appreciation for her appearance. The older woman who had disapproved earlier now looked impressed. “You wear it well, dear. It’s not every day you see a young girl well... so comfortable in their own skin.”
Emily felt a warmth spread through her, a mix of pride and exhilaration. “Thank you! I think it’s important to feel good in what you wear, especially at the beach.”
As she stepped out of the fitting area, the group parted to let her through, their expressions a mix of admiration and disbelief. She could still hear soft snippets of conversation behind her.
“Did you see that? She just… changed right there!”
“Well, good for her, I suppose...."
Emily couldn’t help but smile to herself. As she made her way to the checkout, she felt a sense of camaraderie with the group, a shared experience that transcended the initial embarrassment.
Just as she reached the register, the same woman who had been watching her approached. “I’m Sarah, by the way. I just wanted to say that was kind of inspiring, actually. You’ve got guts.”
“Thanks, Sarah! I’m Emily,” she replied, feeling a spark of connection. “It’s all about accepting yourself, right?”
“Absolutely. I think I might just take a page out of your book,” Sarah said with a subtle grin. “But not here, obviously..."
Emily’s heart raced at the thought. “You should! Life’s too short to play it safe all the time.”
As they chatted, Emily noticed the other colleagues, intrigued by the whole thing. The atmosphere had shifted from one of awkwardness to one of pure excitement.
