Family is Forever

Chapter 86

They day after they arrived in Poland was good Friday and most of the family were fasting but obviously Ali wasn't allowed. She was finding it difficult to eat when the others weren't and there were a few tears. But she managed it. Babcia, dziedak, Ola, Piotr, Wiktor, Lukasz, Kasia, Klaudia and Josef went to Church But Ali decided to stay home, she was emotionally drained and Zosia and Ollie decided to stay with her.
After sleeping Ali felt much better by easter Saturday so Ali and Zosia decided to go on a walk around the village to show it to Ollie, they were accompanied by Kasia who seemed to have taken a shine to Ali, and Lukasz to try and improve his English. They took Ollie to the park, it was fairly warm for March time. Ollie and Lukasz where having a kick around while Kasia and Ali were playing on the swings and Zosia was sat on a bench watching them whilst using social media on her phone. Kasia jumped off the swing and shouted "Ewa" (Eva) and ran up to and hugged another small girl. "This is my best friend Ewalina but we call her Ewa." She explained to Ali, "and this is her big sister Roksana." Ali looked at Roksana "Roksana." She smiled "Roksana Olkowska?" Roksana narrowed her eyes looking at Ali "Natalia Marchowska?" She asked unsure. Ali nodded and the girls giggles and embraced. "I can't believe it's you, what are you doing here?" Roksana asked Ali. "Just here to visit family and stuff."
"Roksana was my best friend when I lived in Poland. She was in my class at school!" Ali told Kasia. "And Ewa's in my class!" Kasia smiled. Roksana and Ali talked for a bit longer "Natalia, Kasia, we're going to the cafe for a drink and a snack. We can treat your friends too." Zosia smiled
"That's very kind, thank you." Roksana said "I'd love to spend some more time with Natalia and Ewa and Kasia love spending time together." She looked at Ali "just like we did at that age." Ali was amazed that she could talk to Roksana like they had never been separated, like Ali hadn't moved halfway across Europe, and they hadn't talked in all that time. They spoke quickly in Polish about tv shows and music and reminisced about their childhood as they drank coffee and ate a peice of cake each "Do you remember that time we went up into the mountains on a school trip and Pawel fell and broke his arm and Miss Nowak had to call an ambulance?"
"Oh my goodness yes. And that time Justyina wee'd herself in the choir show."
"Oh my yes. So how is school with you now Natalia?" Roksana asked. Ali bit her lip, she didn't want to lie to Roksana but she didn't want to explain it all either. Luckily she heard Zosia's voice. "Apologies Roksana And Ewa, it has been lovely to see you, but we need to get home and make some pisanka." She turned to Ollie and explained in English "Pisanka is a Polish easter tradition. Girls, so Kasia, Natalia And I will dye some eggs and paint them or scratch patterns on them then use them to decorate the house."

"Pink." Kasia said in English, she'd recently learnt the colours at school and was trying her best to name them as they had lots of paint and dye in different colours. Kasia, Ali and Zosia were in Babcia's rather large bathroom since the dye and paint would be easier to clean off the tiles and Babcia, Ola and Klaudia we're preparing the food for the Easter Sunday meal in the kitchen. "Almost Kasia, that colour is red." Ali told her
"Red"
"Yes. That's right"
"Blue"
"Perfect. You're so good at English Kasia." Ali told her passing her an egg.
They put their pisanka in a bowl on the dining table and sat down to watch Babcia's favourite film the sound of music.Ollie was sat on the floor in front of the sofa where Zosia, Ali and Kasia were sitting and Klaudia and Ola were on the other sofa everyone was singing along, even Zosia, unlike the last time they had watched it. Zosia put her arms around Ali and whispered "I'm sorry about the last time we watched this"
"It's okay"'Ali replied. "I'm just glad you're better now."
"Me too" Zosia replied "and you will be soon as well"
"I'm much better than I was." Ali replied with a smile and hugged her cousin back.
"Natalia, Zosia, can I borrow you a second." Babcia said taking them into the kitchen. The food for the Easter meal was prepared. "Natalia, everyone knows about your eating disorder, all the adults already knew before you came and I think Wiktor and Lukasz realised something was up when you didn't fast yesterday. I would really like for you to sit with us even if you can't eat with us, perhaps I can save some food for you to eat after." Babcia said in her ever calm voice.
"That sounds like a good plan!" Zosia said cheerfully and Ali nodded in agreement. "It smells good Babcia." Zosia smiled and Ali smiled. She knew exactly what would happen though. The same as what happened yesterday and the day before and most days before that. She would eat and sit with Zosia or Ollie for the  allotted half hour then say she was going to do some schoolwork, or watch Netflix on her laptop or FaceTime Elsie and then go and vomit the food that hadn't digested yet. She was still gaining a little weight due to what she ate at day treatment but she hated it so. She just couldn't eat and keep it down.