Viviane returned home to the small apartment she shared with Moyenne and dropped her bags off on a counter. The mean voices from earlier today replayed in her head: You don’t have to show off your braininess to us! You’re too pretty to do math. Viviane had heard comments like these ever since High School and most days, she would take the high-road and brush them off. But some days, these judgmental barbs dug under the surface and stung her conscience dragging down her self-esteem. Although she tried to be strong and turn the other cheek, sometimes she couldn’t shake free of them.

Viviane was about to turn back and go out the door when Moyenne caught sight of her.

“Hey, what’s the hurry?”

Viviane bit her tongue and paused. “I got a notification that the results of my experiment are ready, so I want to go over and see the data.”

“But it’s practically night already. Go tomorrow. The data will still be there.”

“I know…” Viviane’s voice trailed off.

Moyenne squinted her eyes. “What’s the matter? Something happen to you today?”

“No one thinks I’m smart!” burst out Viviane close to tears. “They just look at my face and body and just assume that I’m shallow. It happened to me twice today!”

“Oh, is that all?” asked Moyenne after hearing what all the fuss was about. “You know, when you’re that good looking, you won’t get a lot of sympathy from other women if you complain about your pretty girl problems.”

“I don’t want sympathy. I just wish people wouldn’t assume things about me just by looking at me and knowing nothing else about me. It hurts to hear that people think I’m dumb when I’ve worked hard to be where I’m at now, doing research for my thesis.”

“Well, I can’t say I understand how it feels to be in your shoes, but if you ever want to trade places, just let me know!” offered Moyenne. She had the widest grin on her face just thinking about the possibility.

“Oh, you’re impossible, Moyenne!” scolded Viviane. “No one understands me.”

Viviane snapped around to turn her back on Moyenne.

“Hey! It’s not that we don’t want to understand where you’re coming from,” Moyenne’s voice softened. “It’s just that, you know, it’s obvious you’ve got it all. You’re good looking, you’re working toward your Ph.D., and people just can’t believe that anyone can have it all. It’s like winning the lottery or something.”

Viviane relaxed and turned only her face back to Moyenne.

“You know, lottery winners have problems, too, even if they’re suddenly rich,” said Viviane speaking over her shoulder.

“If they want to trade places, I’ll be right there, too!” The big grin returned to Moyenne’s face. “Rich or gorgeous is not a bad choice to have to make.”

This time, Viviane giggled.

“Thanks, Moyenne. I know you’re trying to help me feel better, but I need to go study my data now and just get my mind off today. If I can throw myself into my work, it’ll be easier to forget.”

And with that, Viviane picked up a coat and walked out the door as Moyenne was left to wonder about her friend and roommate who did indeed seem to have it all. How was it possible for one girl to be so attractive and smart?

Like winning the lottery, Moyenne thought. Was it by luck when God made her? Or was it by His design? I guess only He knows.