In Times of War

Chapter Twenty-Five

Chapter Twenty-Five

I keep my eyes closed even after I’ve awoken.

   I hear Doctor Tennant and my mother are talking beside my bed. They don’t know I’m awake yet, and I’m going to keep it that way for a little longer. People have interesting conversations when they think you’re asleep. They’re talking quietly, but they’re not quiet enough that I can’t hear them. I wonder what Doctor Tennant is doing in my house, but then I notice that it doesn’t smell like my house. The air has a strong, antiseptic smell. I’m in the hospital. Why am I in the hospital?

“Has she been eating?” Doctor Tennant’s voice breaks me out of my train of thought.

“She says that she has been, but she’s lost too much weight too quickly…”

“So she never eats in front of you or anyone else?”

“Not if she can avoid it. It’s gotten worse since Tony and Alice left. She’s never eaten much, but she used to eat more than this. She used to almost clear her plate, but now she just picks at her food.”

“Okay, have you ever found any food hidden in her room or anything like that?” Why on Earth would I hide food in my room? What’s with all these stupid questions? I’m fine.

“No, Doctor, what’s wrong with my daughter?” My mother asks.

“I’m not exactly sure yet, but this is most peculiar… Has she seemed exceptionally angry, or had any unusual mood swings?” His English accent becomes very prominent.

“She’s had a much shorter fuse, and she’s been a little more moody.” No, I have not! Okay, maybe I have been just a little bit more angry.

“Fatigue, chills, aches and pains?”

   “She’s always slept a lot, but it’s gotten ridiculous now. She goes to bed at seven or eight and doesn’t wake up until after I leave for the factory at seven. And chills? Well, she hasn’t complained to me about being cold, but it’s the beginning of August and she wears a sweater around outside all day. I touched her arm while we were arguing and she felt like she’d been out in the snow all day.”

“What about aches and pains?”

“Not that she’s told me. Do you know what’s wrong with her or not?” I can picture my mother’s irritated face. Her eyebrows are probably furrowed and her arms crossed.

   “I might. I’m going to go and confirm what I think before I come to any conclusions. I’ll be back soon.” I hear him walk out and I hear my mom sit in a chair beside me, sighing. I continue pretending to be asleep for a few more minutes so she doesn’t think I was eavesdropping, even though I was. I make what I hope to be an accurate impersonation of waking up.

“Mama, why am I in the hospital?” I take in the bare white room around me.

“Because you passed out and I know that you haven’t been eating.” She crosses her legs and her arms.

“Yes, I have been!”

“No, you haven’t and you haven’t eaten right for months. Tony told me just before he left that he was worried about you. I didn’t want to believe him, but now I can’t avoid it anymore.”

“Well, he was too worried.”

“I don’t think he was. I wanted to ignore it because I didn’t want to face it again, but I can’t this time. Not with you.”

“What do you mean again?” I ask. She looks so heartbroken that I almost don’t want to be mad at her for putting me in the hospital.

“My little sister Eleanor…”