Family is Forever

Chapter 35- lunchtime

They were all sat around 2 tables. On Ali's table was the clinician Claire along with a few other clinician and nurses. Ali was sat by Elsie along with Sue,Emma and Helen. You were allowed on the other table without clinicians when you're doing better. Lunch was a kind of tomato pasta. Ali took a deep breath. Elsie reached over and squeezed her hand. "You've  got this" Elsie whispered to Ali.  Ali threw her a quick nervous smile. Everyone else had started already. Ali stabbed a single piece of pasta with her fork and brought it to her lips. Fat fat fat ugly stupid girl. The voices in her head were taunting her she looked at Elsie who smiled again. She popped the piece of pasta into her mouth. And another and another. The voices were still taunting and tears began to slowly leak from Ali's eyes. Elsie passed her a tissue. "The first meal is the hardest, it gets easier. I promise." Ali took another deep breath and continued to eat. After 10 minutes all the pasta was gone but Ali was still crying a little. "So" Claire smiled. They weren't allowed to talk about food at mealtimes so although Ali had finished she tried to distract her mind "You
Speak polish Ali?"
"Yeah, it's my first language, my family is Polish"
"Say something in Polish!" Elsie smiled
"I dont know what to say?"
"Say hi I'm Ali!"
"Ok ćześć, jestem Ali" Ali smiled
"Thats so cool, so I'd Say Chest yesem Elsie?" Elsie asked.
"Close enough" Ali giggled.
The rest of the people in day treatment had dessert but Ali didn't have any as it was her first week. It was apple pie and custard. Ali went into the other room and continued her school work. She started a booklet on photosynthesis. Soon Abby, Elsie and Jess joined her. "How long have you been here Jess?" Ali asked. "Almost 5 months!"
Jess smiled. "Like I said I'm back to college next week. Today is my last full day at
DT."
"Are you looking forward to leaving?" Ali asked
"Well yes, of course, but I will miss it. The friends I've made. Especially Meena and Emma, well everyone really and knowing that if I was struggling I'd be okay. I mean I'll still be having CBT and stuff but going back to college will be scary. I look so different, gained so much weight, Im going into college tomorrow to talk with my head of year and my teachers. It's crazy that it's my last day here. I am looking forward to going back to normal though." Jess looked at Abby and put her arm round her "you'll get there soon Abby Fabby, and you'll be the brilliant ballerina that we know you can be!"she turned to Elsie "and you Els, you'll have your life back. Honestly Ali, they're amazing here although it's hard sometimes." There was a little knock on the schoolroom door. Meena popped her head in "girlies can you come into the day room!" Meena had a smile on her face. When they went in there were some presents on the low coffee table. "Congratulations on being discharged Jess" Emma smiled. We got you a few little things. Jess started to cry "you guys" she smiled "I'm really gonna miss you." There was a card that everyone but Ali had signed and a notebook where the first few pages were filled with positive quotes and personal notes. The afternoon was spent with the clinicians joining in a little girly party to celebrate Jess's discharge. Games of articulate and nail painting. Everything a normal girly party has minus the food and dancing. "It's not normally this fun" Meena smiled at Ali.

"Zosh, she'll be fine" Ollie looked at his fiancée. They had come back from Rosehill clinic and had gone back to bed... they hadn't had chance to spend any time as lovers since Ali had been around. They loved having Ali around but loved being together too. Zosia relaxed into the embrace of Oliver...................