weak | choni

6: "Sleeping Beauty"

Toni did a stupid thing.

Her mind went into complete autopilot mode once she got back into her car. She was suddenly making lists of things that needed to get done, things she needed to purchase, and people she needed to call about the trashed house. After purchasing what they needed from the store, she passed a Chinese restaurant on the way home and casually decided to stop and grab them something to eat, completely forgetting about Cheryl's ongoing battle with food.

Toni realized as soon as she set the brown paper bag with their food in it on the island. She'd been so wrapped up in making sure the house was livable, that she'd forgotten things weren't the way they used to be, when she could just bring bags of food into Cheryl's bedroom at midnight and pig out while watching Nicholas Sparks movies.

Now, Cheryl wouldn't touch the food Toni had just brought into the house. Toni missed how things used to be, but anything was better than nothing. She couldn't help but blame herself for everything Cheryl was going through. If only she'd been there for her, maybe Cheryl would be healthy, and maybe Cheryl would have come downstairs and joined her for dinner.

Toni was hungry, though. And she needed the energy if she was going to keep up with Cheryl. Hoping the small girl hadn't heard her arrive back at the house, she grabbed a plastic fork from the bags she'd brought into the house and stabbed a piece of orange chicken. She ate quickly while she stood and took in the small backyard though the sliding glass door in the kitchen.

She was so distracted, in fact, that she didn't hear the light footsteps behind her. She didn't hear the crinkling of plastic bags and the shuffling of Cheryl's shoes until the small girl was standing right next to her. Toni jumped when Cheryl appeared at her side, imitating what Toni had done with her fork and a piece of food.

Toni had to do a double take when she realized Cheryl was silently observing the piece of chicken on her fork. The fact that Cheryl had even taken the initiative to get herself as piece of food was a big deal. But Toni knew if she made a big deal out of it, Cheryl would freak out. So instead Toni gave her a soft smile and walked back over to the island to stab another piece of chicken.

Cheryl passed Toni. Once. Twice. It was on the third time that Toni looked up and raised an eyebrow at Cheryl.

"What're you doing?"

"Walking," Cheryl mumbled, circling the island once more with the untouched piece of food still on her fork. Toni observed her for a few moments as Cheryl continued at her pace, making no move to stop her.

"Mind if I join?" Toni asked with a mouthful of food, laughing at herself.

"If I tell you no, you're not going to listen to me, so..." Cheryl rolled her eyes. She twirled her fork around in her hand and continued to study the small piece of chicken that remained on the plastic utensil.

Toni didn't argue, instead she started pacing around the counter as well. If you can't beat em', join em', right?

And that's how they continued for the next few minutes. Toni stabbing another piece of food each time she circled the counter, and Cheryl's piece of chicken remaining untouched.

It was only when Toni went to throw her fork away that Cheryl slowly brought the piece of now cold chicken to her lips, taking a tiny bite and rolling the food around in her mouth.

Even though Toni had finished eating, she continued pacing around the counter. She told herself she'd walk this path until she passed out if it meant getting Cheryl to eat something. She was impressed that Cheryl had taken the initiative to do this on her own.

Cheryl took another bite about a minute later, chewing her food way more than she needed to. Toni could practically see the internal struggle Cheryl was going through. All she wanted to do was wrap the small girl up in a giant hug and tell her how proud of her she was, but she was sure it wouldn't make things any more comfortable for Cheryl. If she acted like it wasn't a big deal, Cheryl wouldn't feel like the small steps she was taking towards recovery were too hard, either.