Apollo's Muse

Candice (Late Night Visitor) XVI

* Pic is of Lykos

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Christmas Day passed in a blur of gifts, laughter, hugs, smiles, and food. 

Food.

Candice stood in front of the bathroom mirror and surveyed the damage. She pinched the skin stretched tightly across her hip bones, and worriedly eyed the delicate shape of her concave stomach.

Am I fatter? Is there any change?

She frowned and turned sideways.

Maybe? 

She turned her back to the mirror and observed the outline of her ribs and spine. 

Okay, I think I’m okay. I was careful. Small bites make all the difference, right?

She started to shiver, and quickly hopped into the hot stream of water, running her hands over her body. Her fingers encountered the comforting points and corrugations of her protruding bones, and she winced as she encountered a bruise.

Ouch! How did I get that?

Her hands examined her shins, feeling the disquieting dents in her bones.

I wonder if I should tell Mum?

She shampooed her hair, trying to ignore the blonde strands that easily left her scalp and collected in her palms. 

She’ll just worry. And I hate doctors.

She conditioned and shaved her legs, accidentally cutting into the tender skin behind her knee, and winced as she dried off and blotted it with a tissue. She wrapped a towel round her wet hair, and snuggled into her fluffy robe, before heading to her bedroom. 

Dad has to leave this morning. I hate his work. We never see him anymore.

She sighed as she chose a nice outfit of olive green pants, a white silk blouse, a black wool trench, and long black boots. She wrapped a cream cable knit scarf round her neck, and grabbed her favorite black leather bag.

I  guess Boxing Day shopping is a consolation. 

She applied some foundation and blush.

Kind of. 

After swiping mascara over her eyelashes and a creamy lip balm, spritzing her favorite Armani perfume on her wrists, and putting on pearl studs, she was ready.

Mum’s voice called from the kitchen, “Breakfast’s ready, girls!”

Great. More food.

Candice tried to smooth her frown. Lykos’ voice coaxed from the back of her mind, and she pressed her lips together in determination. 

I can do this.

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After eating half a bowl of yogurt and fruit, and drinking a glass of orange juice, Candice felt good - not hungry, for one, and an unfamiliar burst of energy, for another. A niggling guilt in the back of her mind was silenced as she finished her juice, and tickled Rosa as she climbed into her lap.

“Good morning, my beautiful girls!” Dad’s voice put warm fuzzies in her stomach.

He wrapped his arms round both of them and squeezed, and Rosa squealed.