The restaurant was loud and crowded, hardly anywhere to sit, so Emmett and Lizette took their food out to the covered patio and squeezed in at a small table paved with the same chipped Talavera-style tiles that had been there as long as Emmett could remember. There was more to Cotija’s for him than just the food. The taco shop stood across the street from the condo complex where his dad had lived for years. From where he sat, he could see it rising like a ridge of white stucco and brown roofs behind a low-slung strip of shops. Coming here with his father—for a breakfast burrito to start the day, or a bean and cheese burrito after Tourmaline Beach—was the happy, uncomplicated part of his time at Dad’s, punctuated by frequent explosions of rage. Lou Truesdale was a loving father and generous friend, but he wasn’t an easy man. He had a famously short fuse and would fly off the handle at the smallest inconvenience. His needs had to be anticipated to prevent a detonation. Road rage was a given. One of Emmett’s most terrifying childhood memories was of the day he asked his dad if they could have Mc Donald’s for lunch. He saw immediately he’d said the wrong thing. But rather than suggest something else, Lou gritted his teeth and dropped F-bombs under his breath as he drove. The sixteen-year-old at the drive-thru gave him the wrong soda. Emmett’s fries were missing and they had to double back. By the time they got it right, Lou’s anger was at a ten. He gunned it away from the drive-thru window and slammed the brakes as they reached the road, sending Emmett’s orange soda flying from his hand and exploding against the footwell, drenching the freshly shampooed carpets. Staying with Dad was always a minefield, but Emmett’s time there was mostly carefree compared to life with Hank. Cupboards full of snacks. Days spent splashing around the pool or playing Game Boy on the couch without being sneered at. Most nights were spent watching a movie on demand with a bowl of microwave popcorn or Fig Newtons spread with cream cheese. They were Dad’s guilty pleasure, but he rarely managed to get through more than a handful. After a bottle or two of wine, his head would bob toward his chest and he’d be snoring in his recliner, Emmett prodding him and whispering, “Wake up. You’re missing the movie.” That Dad was such a heavy sle eper had its benefits, though. It meant he never stirred to the sound of Emmett reopening the Fig Newtons or, inevitably, pushing the empty package down to the bottom of the kitchen trash, hoping his dad never asked where they’d gone. Emmett sometimes felt sad and lonely at Dad’s, but he didn’t overthink it. Dad drank like all men drank, and he fell asle ep because he was tired. His mother seemed to see things differently. “He didn’t fall asle ep, he passed out,” she’d say. “My mom had a drinking problem too. She tried to quit when Abby was born, but once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic.”
Emmett struggled with that word, alcoholic. It didn’t fit with the image of the hale, hardworking, successful father he knew. “Believe it,” she said. “That’s why he hates Mc Donald’s so much—because they don’t serve beer.” When Emmett turned thirteen and started looking for reasons to hate his dad, this seemed as good an excuse as any. Yeah, fuck that alcoholic asshole, he thought, throwing it in his face whenever they argued. At those moments, Emmett could scream as loud as his dad, could throw just as many glasses at the wall. But the truth was, Emmett had never especially cared about the drinking. Mostly he resented his dad’s anger, which he feared he’d inherited; and was sad and confused about why Lou, as much as he clearly loved his son, had never protected him from Hank. He’d known what was happening—some of it, at least—so why hadn’t he st epped in before things got really bad? What had Emmett done to deserve his apathy? As he sat on the patio of Cotija’s eating his California burrito—carne asada, crispy French fries, cheese, pico, and guac—he noticed Lizette staring at him. “What?” he sniped through a mouthful of steak, his Pavlovian response to being watched eating. “Nothing, you just—you’ve lost so much weight.” “Oh. Thanks.” He posed cutely, as if he hadn’t just barked at her. “I’m not saying it as a compliment—” “I know.” “It’s just happening so fast. What’ve you lost, like, fifty-five pounds?” He shrugged. “Fifty-six. So what? The treatment’s just doing what it’s supposed to. Dr. Halleck’s not worried, so—” “Now you trust what he thinks? You didn’t go to the doctor for four years and now you’re BFFs?” “What are you saying?” “I’m worried about you, Emmettito. This shit they’ve got you on, it’s not safe.” “What, and being morbidly obese is safe?” Lizette’s head rocked back in surprise. “Whoa.” “Sorry, I just— Thank you for being concerned, but there’s nothing to be—” Emmett’s phone buzzed. Aaron was calling. “Take it,” she said. As he carried the phone away, she called after him, “But I’m having a bite of your burrito.” He paused on the street side of the restaurant and answered, “Aaron, hi.” “Hey, Emmett, it’s Aaron. Sorry, you know that. How was your weekend?” “Good, good. Just, you know...” He hesitated, then spoke over Aaron. “Yeah—” “Trying not to stress too much. Sorry.” “No worries.” He laughed. “I just wanted to follow up on the interview. You did great.” “So you’re calling with good news?” Aaron paused. “Ugh. This is so hard.” Emmett’s hope guttered. “The panel was really impressed—it was between you and one other candidate—but ultimately that person just looked a little better on paper.” On paper, my ass, Emmett thought. “I get it.” “I feel terrible, especially after encouraging you to apply.” “No. I’m happy I was even considered. Really.” “Look, I should get back. But let’s hang out again
sometime. Text me.” Emmett heartily agreed, with not the slightest intention of following through. Appendix L—Health Journal PARTICIPANT DETAILS TRIAL ID: OBXII202305 PARTICIPANT NO: 82941 DOB: 12/8/94 SEX: M HT: 5'11" START WT: 323 LBS Date of Entry 7/25/23 Current Weight (lbs.) 252 Lost to Date Calculated BMI BMI Category 71 Lbs. 35.1 Severely Obese Please describe your physical, mental, and emotional state as pertains to this clinical trial. Like life, weight loss is a journey full of ups and downs. That hasn’t changed just because I’m still shedding more than five pounds a week (as evidenced by a certain recent disappointment in my professional life)—but you know what? For the first time, I can honestly say that things are looking up. Let’s start with the physical: I feel AMAZING. Yes, I still weigh more than I’d like to, but I feel the weight loss in every inch of my body. I don’t even care that I wake up in the morning feeling like I haven’t eaten in a week, because every day I’m smaller than I was the day before. When I look down, I can see my p***s! (Sorry—that was too much info XD.) Now that I’m down to a 2 XL, I can finally buy clothes in- store again, and they look so much better on me. Almost like they’re SUPPOSED to look, not like rafts of cotton stretched over a bundle of party balloons lol. The only problem is, I’m dropping sizes so fast I can’t afford to r eplace my clothes quickly enough! Lizette’s been a lifesaver there. She’s made me a bunch of great outfits. They don’t really fit GORDITA’s aesthetic, but she sewed the brand’s name into all the tags anyway. She claims they’ll be collectors’ items one day. Although my face is still round, for the first time in ages I feel like it’s the first thing people see when they look at me. Not my boobs or the way my shirt pulls across my gut or the horrible upside-down triangle shape of my thighs. I see the way their eyes meet mine when they pass me on the street or come up to me at work to ask a question. I see the way they SEE me, and just that—just being seen—is the best feeling in the world. It’s changing my whole personality. I’m ten times more confident than I was before. I’m not scared to leave the house. I don’t live in fear of running into someone from my past. If I did, sure, they might still look at me and think, Oof, he’s put on weight since college, but I don’t think I’d even care. I’m not saying everything’s perfect or I’m where I want to be, but I’ll be damned if this isn’t the happiest I’ve felt in a while. I’m heavy, but my heart feels light, and that’s a hell of a feeling. Thank you, Obexity.:) Investigative R eport Pr epared for Monstera Bio Sciences BY PRENTICE & DARROW LLP Excerpt from “Part 1: Background” (p. 19)
The participant was also active on the social media platform Instagram, where he frequently shared photos and videos about his life and weight loss journey. For years, his online following was modest, consisting primarily of friends, family, and acquaintances; however, his posts began to gain traction in summer 2023, when he started posting photos documenting his body transformation. With his NDA preventing him from mentioning the treatment, many assumed the weight loss had occurred through traditional methods, an obfuscation that appeared to play in the participant’s favor. Appendix M—Instagram Post etruesdale94 154 posts 410 followers 931 following Emmett Truesdale California boy. Aspiring educator. Burrito connoisseur. Author of The True Me, a blog of weight loss realness and finding myself. www. thetruemeblog. com etruesdale94 24 Hour Fitness, San Diego, CA PHOTO DESCRIPTION: Then-and-now photo of participant no. 82941. Left side shows participant, morbidly obese, standing outdoors at a child’s birthday party. Superimposed text reads “April 2023—324 lbs.” Right side d epicts participant visibly slimmer, taking a selfie in a mirror reflecting a bustling gym floor, as participant flexes a bic ep and grins. Superimposed text reads “August 2023— 243 lbs.” 368 likes etruesdale94 81 LBS DOWN!!!!! Three months ago I was at my all-time highest weight. I’d just been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. I was sad, scared, hopeless, feeling like my life was spiraling out of my control. Less than 12 weeks later, I’ve lost more than 80 lbs. and my A1 C is back in the healthy range. In some ways it doesn’t feel real, and in other ways, like my whole life has been leading up to this. Damn, it feels good to take back control of my life and my health!! Still got a long road ahead of me, but the real me is coming —I can feel him simmering just beneath the surface, like a force of nature about to break free. When he does, you all better be ready. #weightloss #weightlossjourney #80 poundsdown #12 weekbodytransformation #gym #beforeandafter #takingbackcontrol #thetrueme Comments rita_mamacita Wow, what a difference etruesdale94 @rita_mamacita Thank you so much!!! ericfitla Ke ep putting that work in etruesdale94 @ericfitla It’s nice to be hitting the gym again! heatherette478 OMG, your progress is incredible!!! I think I’m going to go to the gym after seeing this—you’ve inspired me!!! etruesdale94 @heatherette478 I’m so happy to hear that!!! heatherette478 @etruesdale94 Just got back. Felt so good! Thank you for sharing your journey!!! I’ve subscribed to your blog!! etruesdale94 @heatherette478 You have no idea how much that means to me, thank you!
ruth_delgado_ The smile on your face says it all... Handsome guy. Congrats! etruesdale94 @ruth_delgado_ You’re makin’ me blush, Ruth! Thank you!! ~dolphin. girl~ Just one question,, did you have lap band or bypass,,? Thank etruesdale94 @~dolphin. girl~ I did not but I’ve considered it before, and I support anyone who makes that choice ~dolphin. girl~ @etruesdale94 Ok thank u,,, im thinking about it because diet and exercise doesn’t work for me etruesdale94 @~dolphin. girl~ The struggle is real! Good luck with whatever you decide to do. You got this! thefatandthefurious Now THIS is #Weight Loss Goals etruesdale94 @thefatandthefurious My jaw is on the floor right now. I’m speechless. Huge thanks. joanna_225 etruesdale94 Thank you for all the support on this post and all the new followers! I’m overwhelmed by your kindness!!! For more #weightlossinspo, please consider checking out my blog. Link in bio. Hidden by Instagram ———————————————————— willp5 If you think this dude isn’t on some kinda drug, ur dumb as shit August 6