Maya hasn't touched her fork. She has her hands folded in her lap. She's not even looking at the plate. I made the girls switch so I could watch it.
"Maya."
"I told you, I ate before coming." I take her hand and put it on the fork. "Come on. Try."
She puts some rice on it and then chews it.
"You've got to have more then rice, though."
"But I already ate." I notice her leg bouncing.
"Stop that." I take her napkin. She gives me an 'are you kidding me' look.
"So how long is your mom gone for.?" Says Riley.
"Two days." She takes a sip of her water.
"So we get to be sisters for two days."
"Hey! You have a brother." Says Auggie.
"Don't worry." Says Riley. "You're my brother." I move Maya's hand from the table, making her drop the rice back on the plate. I take her other hand and put the fork on a piece of cut chicken. She eats it.
"Good." She gives me a death glare.
"What's wrong with Maya?" Asks Auggie.
"Nothing for you to worry about." Says Topanga. "Just ignore it."
"I'm sorry." Says Maya, quietly.
"Just eat." I say. She nods and takes another bite. Another, one last one. But slowly. Over the course of the meal.
"May I be excused?"
"No."
"I have to use the restroom."
"Then finish eating." She stands up. I grab her arm but she pulls it out and goes in, shutting the door. I go after her.
"Maya?" I test the nob. I hear the water turn on. "Maya, come on." I hear some coughing and walk down the hallway so I won't have to hear it. So I can deny it. A minute later, she comes back out. She doesn't look at me. I stare at her. She looks at the ground. Riley passes by, wiping tears, and shutting the door to her room, which Maya looks at. I lead her back to her plate.
"One bite for a blanket tonight, two for the couch, three for a pillow, four in Riley's room." Nothing. "Two of the rice for the carpet. She separates two pieces. "You know I mean spoonfuls." Nothing. "Fine, enjoy the floor."
"You made her sleep on the floor." Says Topanga as I sit.
"Cause she won't eat."
"Anorexia is a mental problem, okay. She shouldn't be sleeping on the ground."
"Why didn't you tell her to move to the couch?"
"Because. Cause I'm afraid of saying or doing something wrong. I could hurt her and Riley. So I went to Riley. Because I can talk to her."
"You can talk Maya."
"But what if I trigger something. I love Maya but she doesn't let those things go. I don't know what's going on in her brain."
"How worse could she get, really?"
"Not much."
"Exactly."
"I told Riley she ate more."
"As long as Rileys not as scared."
"She is. But don't blame Maya."
"I know. I'm not going to. And I can't let her sleep on the ground." I sit up and walk out. I expect her to be awake but she's asleep, on the wooden floor. She is blue and shivering. I lift her up and place her down on the couch, able to tell her eyes opened because they reflected the light from the window.
"But I didn't eat the chicken."
"I'm upset that you barely tried. But the floor was kinda cruel." I put
the blanket on her.
"Why do you care?" She whispers.
"I care. No matter what. Remember that."
"Thank you." She falls asleep.
