The temptation pulls me to the café window. The server sighs and glares at me. “What do you want?”
There is a giant line of food in front of me. Steaming soups, crunchy veggies, and sugary desserts. My stomach clenches with hunger and fear.
I pile a dingy orange tray with cookies, soup, vegetables, and cakes. The smells are intoxicating…
I sit at a table by myself and push hundreds of calories into my stomach. I don’t even taste any of it, I just let it splash into my aching belly. I eat until I feel like bursting. I push the tray aside and colours dance in front of my eyes. My heart thumps as I race out of the cafeteria and duck into the nearest bathroom. This will not please the nursing staff…
I purge until my stomach is empty and my throat is raw. I flush the disgusting mess out of sight. When I gather enough strength to step out of the bathroom, I am surrounded by a circle of frowning nurses and doctors.
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“Send a psychologist here right away!” A nurse crows into the intercom on my room wall.
I roll my eyes and glare at her.
“The group therapy isn’t going to be enough, Isabelle. So I’m calling in some extra help.”
Lovely. More people who want to pick my head apart.
The nurse waits impatiently, tapping her foot against the floor and continuously checking the door.
A blonde woman appears in the doorway. She is a petite woman, wearing a dark pencil skirt and concrete-grey blazer. She smiles warmly as she walks towards my bed.
She nods at the nurse and turns to me. “Hello, Isabelle. I’m Anne Keats, the resident psychologist.”
I respond by rolling my eyes. I don’t care.
“If you let me help you, we can get through this.” She says.
Miss Psychologist, how exactly do you plan to rid me of my inner demons?
