Off Ones Rockers II • Lashton

Chapter Thirty

Chapter Thirty

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When Luke told Alex that he wanted to go home, he felt sympathy but he didn't think much about it. It was inevitable that the blonde was going to miss home, and often patients did especially in this stage of recovery. But, at this point in time going home for Luke was going to be something that wasn't going to happen anytime soon.

However, as Alex sat in his office - his desk lamp dimly lighting up the room - the man found himself reflecting upon Luke's words once again. He had just written up the blondes notes from today; the discussion they had during his session, what he had eaten and any other notes that he deemed necessary to send to Victoria so she could file them. 

The man sat back in his chair and ran his hands through his hair. Alex had joined Sid in the canteen during dinner, knowing it was something the man often did as he observed his patients eating patterns. Alex rarely did this, he liked to leave the blonde alone to fend for himself. But, he knew that the other man liked to observe his patients eating patterns as he felt it often reflected where they were in recovery and how it could foreshadow their future habits with eating. 

Alex watched the blonde as he sat next to Ashton, Ashton had finished. That was necessary because Luke wasn't eating. But, the blonde was slow and silent. He had been since he had got here. The curly-haired boy had his hand resting on the blonde's thigh, looking around the room at other people. 

Luke, on the other hand, was staring straight ahead, not as his food, but at the empty seat opposite him. When he first got him Alex remembered he was always watching other people. Watching to see if they were judging him. Looking around for nurses or therapist who was observing him. However, today he didn't even know that two therapists were stood opposite him by the window watching him. Ashton had noticed, he knew they were watching. But, he didn't want to tell the blonde, he just wondered what they were watching him for. He was eating, he hadn't refused to it weeks now.

"Do you notice anything off about his eating?" Sid spoke up, after about five minutes of silence. His gaze was now adverted to a newer patient, in which a nurse had now sat beside him and was speaking calmly to him about the rules and why he needed to consume something. 

Alex observed the blonde again more carefully. He seemed to be eating just fine, there was no look of panic of regret about his actions. Evidently that usually comes after they have consumed the meal. But, he seemed to be eating without fear. "I don't think so. Obviously we don't know what he's thinking. But, he seems calm."

Sid hummed in agreement, looking back over at the blonde was onto his last couple of chips. "He is calm," Sid agreed. "Almost too calm. He shouldn't be this calm Alex, that is the problem."

Alex looked at Sid, a little sceptically. He didn't quite see the issue still. "Luke's eating passively. I couldn't figure it out at first, but the one day he refused to eat it clicked. Luke's eating as if he were a robot. It's like he's programmed. He's definitely not eating for himself. And something needs to be done about that."

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The conversation with Sid and Luke expressing his desire to go homemade Alex believe that maybe this was not the right place for Luke to recover. It was clear from his records and all the sessions they'd have that Luke's issue with eating was predominantly about his control. Either restricting or being too free. 

Luke was putting his life in the hands of the ward. He wasn't eating for his own recovery, he was eating because he had too. And it was clear that wasn't recovery. It was as if the blonde was detached from his body, he had no substance left to him. It would explain the lack of concentration in the session earlier today. Alex knew that the blonde had a short attention span, that was connected to his short attention span. However, never had Luke been this distant. He'd always at least answer with a monotone, yes, no, I don't know or a shake of the head. 

Alex opened up the blondes files once again and scanned over for his recent weight - one hundred and fifteen. He was due another weigh-in tomorrow. It was recorded that the fifteen-year-old was now at a healthy weight, although not ideal or sustainable. But, it wouldn't be wholly unreasonable for him to go home. 

The therapist then opened up his emails and selected both Sid and Victoria's email address and let his hands hover over the keyboard. He decided that he was doing the right thing and composed an email calling an urgent email regarding Luke and the possibility of an early discharge. 

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I'm probably gonna diverge from the original a little bit here. But I think it is better than dragging it out.

How is everyone doing in these difficult times?

Please comment on what you think!

Thank you so much for reading!