Family is Forever

Chapter 32-you say i'll get better?

Zosia came to Ali's bedside. "Hey kochanie we need to talk!" Zosia looked pointedly at Dom "see you later Ali" he said before leaving and Ben and Ollie came over. Ben introduced himself then asked Ali a question "do you want to get better?"
"Of course" Ali answered
"We can help you do that. But only if you're serious. It will be tough, you will hate it, you'll cry. But you'll get healthy ah the end! I'm talking about Day treatment. An intensive programme you'll come to Rosehill five days a week."
"What about 6th form?" Ali asked
"Well there is time to do some school work.  Legally there needs to be for under 16's. Not enough for 4 a-levels though and you don't legally need to be in school. We can talk to your teachers and make an action plan. We provide 2 meals and 2 snacks. Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays we start at 11 so you will have breakfast at home then have morning snack, lunch, afternoon snack and tea at Rosehill finishing at 6.30 then night snack at home. Tuesdays and Thursdays we start at 8.30 and have breakfast, morning snack, lunch and afternoon snack then you have tea and night snack at home and we finish at 3. Weigh days are Mondays and Thursdays. There are two options for each meal and multiple options for snacks. You will talk to Beckie our dietician. It's a group therapy approach there are currently 7 in the group our younger member Abby is 13 and our oldest Helen is 40 something. I think you'll fit in well. I know it's a lot to take in, but are you up for it?"
"You say I'll get better?" Ali asked softly
"Yes i 100% think that you can!" Ben said confidently.
"Then ok." Ali whispered.

"You're at St Stephens right. Who is your form tutor and head or year?"Ben asked
"Agata Yates is my form tutor and Mr Edwardson is my year head. I don't know his first name sorry." Ali answered
"Ok we'll talk to Mrs Yates. She's been helpful before. Mr Edwardson not quite so much" Ben replied "Robert by the way" he laughed.
"Sorry?" Ali asked confused
"Mr Edwardsons first name"
"Oh" Ali laughed in reply.
"Tomorrow. Are you able to attend Rosehill tomorrow, Zosia and Ollie you too. And I'll ring  the school. Hopefully the school can send someone's preferably Mrs Yates. Can you think of anyone else?" Ben asked. They all shook their heads. "I know that it's a lot to take in Natalia, but I have to ask self-harm?"
Ali stayed quiet. She had stopped cutting her arms. Zosia was checking so she'd moved to her hips and thighs. "Natalia?" Ben asked
She nodded slowly. "Where!" Zosia demanded "I check her arms"
"Hips and thighs" she whispered
"I didn't think to check" Zosia said sadly
"Ok," Ben said "see you tomorrow" and left.

"Zosia I'm so sorry" Ali looked up at her older cousin "You don't understand. When I
Lie or fail or do something bad I have to punish myself. I just have to like a little voice tells me. And I just can't stop it. It's so scary..." and Ali started to cry.