The Throwaway

When a woman is prized first and foremost for her looks, what does she have left to offer when the world decides those looks are gone? Marigold Pim, once the darling of the modeling world, graced the covers of nearly every prestigious fashion magazine on the planet. Her ethereal beauty captivated audiences and made her the epitome of glamour during the 1980s—and also led her straight into the arms of famous rock musician Cobb Hartley. But now, along with her youth, she’s lost her hold on the public’s interest, leaving her feeling like nothing more than a relic of a bygone era. But Marigold isn’t going peacefully, quietly, or gently into that good night. Refusing to let society dictate her worth, Marigold is embracing her age and using her public platform to advocate for a very unpopular aging gracefully. Forgoing surgeries and fillers and refusing to let the patriarchy tell her that she’s not worth anyone’s attention, Marigold still gets booked for the occasional modeling job, which keeps her in the spotlight. She also knows that true beauty transcends wrinkles and fading looks, so with every mean comment or troll she encounters online, she fights back with her unyielding spirt and unwavering confidence, making her an inspiration for women of all ages. But there’s a part of Marigold that feels defeated. Menopause and a very public and ugly divorce from Cobb have left her exhausted. The dating pool for a woman her age is more like a depressing little puddle, and so Marigold moves to the tranquil shores of Shipwreck Key, where she enjoys her peace. It is there, surrounded by the gentle lapping of the waves and her tight-knit group of female friends, that she can truly be herself. It’s only as she settles in and accepts that she might never find passionate romance again that Marigold gets fixed up by a friend with a guy who truly gets her. She shares her entire journey with her followers on social media, and in the process, Marigold becomes an emblem of hope for those who have lost faith in love, and they root her on wholeheartedly. However, her divorce—while ugly—wasn’t borne of hatred; there’s still real love there. Love, and friendship. For decades Cobb Hartley was her lover, her biggest cheerleader, and her best friend, and divorcing him doesn’t mean that he’s not a part of her life anymore. So when Cobb comes to Marigold in his time of need (once again), she knows what needs to be done—even if it means putting herself and her new romance in second place. There are millions of women watching as she nervously bumbles through this stage of her life, but can Marigold Pim prove to the world—and to herself—that beauty and love truly have no expiration date?