Company Of Angels || Adam Park

five

"Want to go get something to eat?" Adam asked when he smoothed some of my hair out of my face.

"I'm not very hungry." I muttered.

"Have you eaten anything today?" he asked me.

"You've talked to Rocky, haven't you?" I asked.

"Yeah, I have. He told me everything that I probably should know while you were in the hospital. Like you not eating much, which I understand that's hard for you right now... but I would really like you to try and eat something... even if it's a desert for crying out loud." He looked at me.

"It's... hard." I sighed, "Eating... I eat because I know I have too even if I'm not hungry... but then it just upsets my stomach and I get mad at myself for eating anything at all."

"Look at me." Adam said as he reached up and gently turned my head towards his, "I know this is hard for you and that it's going to take time for things to get back to normal, but you do need to eat something. Not a whole lot, just something small. Start small and re-build your tolerance and appetite towards food. Try and think of it that way, okay?"

"I had a milkshake and fries yesterday." I told him.

"That's good. What have you eaten today though?" he asked.

"Nothing." I sighed.

"What about those mini tacos from the Juice Bar you like?" he suggested.

"Well... I do like those." I thought about it, "But they're probably just going to make my stomach hurt."

"I want you to eat, Danielle. Even if it's just a few bites. Please?" He continued to watch me.

"Fine." I gave in, "Let's get mini tacos then."

"Thank you." He scooped me up and stood the both of us up on the grass. I brushed my hair out of my face again and then looked at Adam.

"Can we go see Ms. Maria after?" I asked.

"She has lessons today, so we can see her at the Juice Bar. Maybe she can eat brunch with us?" Adam suggested.

"Then can we go to your house after? I just want to be alone with you." I told him.

"I'm sure we could do that. We'll have to ditch Rocky though." Adam laughed.

"I think we can manage that one." I laughed, "As long as his parents don't get mad at me though."

"I don't think they will." He shook his head, "Come on."

Adam grabbed my hand and we started walking towards the Juice Bar. The warmth of the sun on my skin was a feeling I didn't think I was going to get tired of right now. I watched my feet as I walked, knowing that Adam was guide me and not let me run into anything. It felt nice to be back in a place that was familiar to me. It felt nice to be anywhere but my grandmother's house right now.

It didn't take us long to walk to the Juice Bar, so we were there in under five minutes. Adam held the door for me and I walked in with him right behind me. I scanned the room for Rocky because that's where he said he was going and when I spotted him, he was sitting at the counter up near the register. I followed Adam over to him and watched him pull his wallet out of his pocket and fish through it. He pulled out some cash and then I watched as the person behind the counter walk over to us. Rocky glanced in our direction but didn't say anything.

"Hey, Adam. How are you doing?" the man behind the counter asked.

"I'm good Ernie. Can I just get an order of the mini tacos and two Kiwi Wheatgrass Juices?" Adam looked at the man.