Family is Forever

Part 18- eating disorders are terrifiying

The next morning was a Saturday and Ali was itching to get out of the hospital. It was also the day Zosia and Ollie were moving in together. Ali had been awake for a few hours, she had got changed into her usual clothes and felt a lot better, she was reading 'ps I love you.' Her favourite book. 'Natalia, did you sleep well?' Serena stepped into Ali cubicle. 'Yes thank you' Ali smiled politely. 'Zosia will be here any minute, I have the letter for the eating disorder clinic and some iron tablets. You'll need to take one once a day, try to take them with food if you can...I know that might be a struggle' Serena smiled back
'Morning Serena, are you ready Natalia?' Zosia had her hair up with old jeans and a plain top on, and even like that Ali thought she looked flawless. 'She's been discharged' Serena smiled. Ali stood up, Zosia took her hand and they walked towards the lift.
The house had a  large kitchen a large lounge and loo downstairs. Then upstairs there was a master bedroom with an ensuite a smaller bed room and a bathroom and the attic had been converted into a large bedroom. 'Can I have the Attic room?' Ali asked Zosia once they had been home about 2 hours. 'Of course you can!' Zosia smiled . All the rooms had basic furniture in them like beds and wardrobes but everything else was still in boxes.
Zosia and Ollie were talking in the kitchen while Ali was resting in her room. 'Should we have a Chinese takeaway for dinner, since we haven't even unpacked any plates yet.' Ollie smiled putting his arms around his girlfriends waist. 'What about Natalia? Why don't we get pizza we can just get one to share rather than all have our own meal, it might be easier for her.' Zosia mused. 'Good idea' Ollie replied.
Half an hour later the pizza arrived and Zosia went upstairs to get Ali. 'Kochaine, came downstairs and have some dinner.' Zosia came and sat on Ali's bed. 'I'm not hungry.' Ali replied still staring at the wall. 'At least come down and sit with us, we have pizza, please come and have a piece.' Zosia put her hand on Ali's back. Ali got out of bed and gave Zosia a hug before going down the stairs.
'We got you diet coke, I don't know what you like, you can have my lemonade if you'd rather.' Ollie smiled at Ali. 'Diet coke's great' Ali smiled and took a sip. Zosia and Ollie started on the pizza. 'I can't understand how you're feeling Kochaine' Zosia said softly 'I really want you to try and eat a piece of pizza, just one.' Ali did eat a piece of pizza but it took a lot of encouragement and persuasion and 45 minutes. By the end Ali had tears falling from her face. 'Well done kochaine' Zosia smiled and hugged her cousin. Ali went back upstairs to try to sleep. 'She really is ill...' Zosia sighed. 'Zosia, Penny, before she died. Well when she was a teenager, she had anorexia. She always used to say unless you've had it yourself you can't understand the fear of eating a banana can cause you to be awake at 3 am trying to work out how to avoid eating it. Eating disorders are terrifying for the one who has it and their loved ones.