Renegade - A Taylor Swift Adoption Story

Chapter 24: Saving Chloe

Author's note: TRIGGER WARNING: Eating disorder chapter, please skip if reading about it affects you. Next chapter will be back to normal <3 

The tension at dinner was palpable. As I watched Chloe pick at her food without really eating anything, my concern deepened. I couldn't stand to see her like this, wasting away before my eyes.

"Chloe, please, try to eat something," I urged her, my voice laced with desperation. "You need your strength."

Chloe tried to take a bite, but suddenly she burst into tears, pushing her plate away. "I can't, I just can't," she cried, her voice breaking.

I felt my own heart break at the sight. "Why? Please tell us what's wrong. We just want to help," I asked, feeling helpless and lost.

Chloe stayed silent, her sobs filling the room. Travis got up from his chair and moved closer to her, his approach gentle and caring.

"Sweets, we're worried about you. We're here for you, whatever it is," he said softly.

"Please, baby" I found myself begging, tears welling up in my eyes. "You need to eat. I can't... I can't lose you. We can't lose you."

Chloe looked up, her own eyes brimming with tears. The pain in her expression was palpable, and it mirrored my own. She reached out, her hand trembling, but then she pulled back, unable to bring herself to eat.

Travis, who had been watching the exchange with a pained expression, gently intervened. "Chloe," he said softly, "we know you're going through something tough. We know you want to tell us what's been going on. If talking about it is too hard, maybe... maybe you could draw it instead?"

Chloe paused, considering his words. Her gaze shifted from the untouched food to Travis, then to me. In her eyes, I saw a flicker of something – was it relief? Hope? It was hard to tell.

Slowly, she nodded, a silent agreement to his suggestion. Travis quickly fetched her drawing pad and some pencils, placing them gently in front of her.

As Chloe picked up a pencil, her hand still shaking slightly, I felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe this was the breakthrough we needed, a way for her to express what words couldn't convey.

When she finished, she turned the pad around to show us two drawings: one of a very thin version of herself, and the other, a much larger version.

We looked at the drawings, then at Chloe, confusion evident in our expressions. "Want to tell us what these mean?" I asked gently, trying to understand.

Chloe's voice was small, almost a whisper, as she explained. "I read some stuff online... People have been comparing how I looked when I first met you, Taylor, to how I look now."

Her eyes filled with tears, and she hesitated before adding, "Someone said I'm eating rich people fat food now... that I've gotten fat."

Hearing her say those words, my heart sank. The cruelty of such comments, the thoughtless judgment from strangers, it was more than any child should have to bear.

"Oh, Chloe," I said, my voice thick with emotion. I reached out to hold her hand. "Those people, they don't know anything about you or us. What they're saying, it's not true. You're perfect just the way you are."

Travis added, his tone firm yet caring, "Yeah, kiddo. People can be thoughtless and mean online. You can't let them define how you see yourself."

"But they're right... I have changed," Chloe sobbed, her body shaking with each cry.

I pulled her into a hug, holding her close. "You've grown. You're healthy and strong, and that's all that matters. People change, and that's okay. It's part of growing up."

Travis knelt down beside us, adding his own words of support. "What you eat or how you look doesn't change how amazing you are. You're kind, smart, funny, and so much more."

We stayed like that for a while, holding Chloe as she cried, letting her release all the pent-up emotions. It was clear that the negative comments had deeply affected her perception of herself. But I wasn't done explaining to her just how amazing she is.

"Darling," I began, taking her hand in mine, "when you first came to me, you were malnourished. You weren't eating enough, and it was affecting your health."

Chloe looked down, nodding slightly. It was a difficult time for her, and revisiting it wasn't easy.

"But look at you now," I continued, lifting her chin so she would meet my eyes. "You're healthy and strong. The changes in your eating habits were about making sure you were getting the nutrition you needed. You're growing, and that's a good thing."

Chloe's eyes were filled with a mix of emotions – understanding, but still a hint of uncertainty. "But what if people keep saying mean things?"

I squeezed her hand reassuringly. "People might say things without understanding the situation. What matters is how you feel and your health. You're not the same little girl who came to us; you're growing up, and that comes with changes. It's all part of becoming the amazing person you're meant to be."

Travis joined us, sitting beside Chloe and wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "You're perfect just the way you are. You're loved, and you're part of our family. That's what counts."

Chloe leaned into Travis, then looked at me. "I just want to be normal," she said softly.

I smiled at her, my heart full of love. "You are normal. And you're also extraordinary. Being healthy, and growing – that's the most normal and wonderful thing. And we're here to support you every step of the way."

Since we were at this subject, I also wanted to make one thing clear. "Please don't look up what people are saying about you online. If I read every mean comment ever said about me, I would never leave the house. People say cruel things because they think they can hurt us."

Chloe nodded, listening intently. The sting of the online comments was still fresh in her mind.

Travis, sensing the seriousness of the conversation, added a light touch to ease the mood. "Yeah, it's like what I always say - opinions are like butts, everyone has one and some are extra stinky," He chuckled, and even Chloe cracked a small smile.

"But seriously," I continued, "what's important is how we see ourselves and how the people who truly know and love us see us. The opinions of strangers on the internet, they don't define us."

"I know it can be hard to ignore, especially when it seems like everyone has an opinion," Travis added, "but remember, you have people who love you and know the real you. That's what matters."

I squeezed Chloe's hands gently. "Always focus on the positive things in your life, the things that make you happy and proud. And remember, it's okay to take a break from social media. It can be overwhelming at times."

Chloe seemed to be absorbing our words, the gears in her mind turning. "I'll try," she said quietly. "It's just hard sometimes."

"We know, and that's okay," I reassured her. "Always come to us if something online, or anything at all bothers you. We can talk about it, and work through it together."

"And don't forget," Travis added, "you're an incredible person, Chlo. Don't let anyone's words make you doubt that."

As we concluded our conversation, I could see a sense of understanding in Chloe's eyes. It was a lot for her to process, but I felt confident that we had provided her with some tools to navigate the complexities of the online world and the impact it could have.

That night, as I tucked Chloe into bed, I reminded her once more of her worth and our unconditional love for her. "You're strong, babe. Stronger than you even realize."

With a kiss on her forehead, I left her room, hoping that whatever had been brewing in her mind over the past few days could now be combated. Travis and I will help her deal with this together. And in a way, my words to Chloe were also my words to my younger self, who battled those exact demons mere decades ago. If Chloe can make it, so can I.