I rushed to my room with tears in my eyes, those girls’ remarks still sounding in my ears. My body shook with silent sobs of humiliation and anger. How dare they say such horrible things about me!? How dare they taunt me with such painful words!? Pig. Fatty. Fatso. Oinker. Why would they say such things anyway?
“Because they’re true.” Said a sharp, high voice. A ghostly hand reached through my window, followed by a head, torso, and legs. The skeletal frame of a girl sat cross-legged on the bed across from me. “Nobody says things like that unless they’re true.”
“Why thank you.” I said sarcastically, wiping the tears away. “And who are you?”
The thin girl sat up straight and held out her hand. “I’m Ana. And I can give you the thing you want the most.”
I shook her hand and asked “What is it that you think I want?”
“Well, I KNOW that you want to be thin. More than anything. And I can help you with that.”She cocked her head and a little smile played on her lips. “But you will have to show me that you want it.”
"I do want it." I whispered. Hoping that my tear-stained face looked as sincere as I felt.
She grinned at me. "Good."
"But how exactly are you going to help me?" I asked.
Her expression turned serious and she leaned in to whisper in my ear. "Every time you're about to put a bite of food in your mouth, I will be there to ask you if you really want it. Every time you're about to down a bag of chips, I will be there telling you to stop. Because really what does food do? I mean, you need SOME to live of course, but not all the junky stuff you're so addicted to. It's only satisfying for the moment you're putting it in your mouth and tasting it, then it will be with you for a long time......sitting in your waist roll. Remember, nothing tastes as good as thin feels, I can tell you that first hand. You will also exercise: you will run until you drop and do sit-ups until your entire body burns, you will do laps in an icy pool until your lips turn blue and you can't feel your toes."
I shuddered "That doesn't sound good. Is it really worth all that hunger and suffering?"
"You mean thin?"
"Yeah."
"Well of course it's worth it! Don't you want to be able to run around on the beach in your little string bikini and not feel disgusting? Don't you wanna be able to look at that skimpy little outfit in Rave and know that you would look damn good in it? Don't you want boys to fall at your feet and be able to pick you up and swing you around without struggling?"
"HELL YEAH!!!!"
"Then listen to me, do what i tell you, and i will give you toned little thighs, a flat, firm little tummy, and an adorable ass. Listen to me, let me be your diet coach and your cheerleader, and I will give you what you want the most. Thin."
"Wait..........what you're saying sounds a lot like anorexia." I said, hesitating.
"Yes, and?"
"Well....isn't that like.....you know......a disease?"
"Do you have a vegetarian friend/"
"Yes."
"She doesn't eat meat, does she?"
"It's a he actually but yeah, he doesn't eat meat."
"So he doesn't eat a certain food and nobody thinks vegetarianism is a disease correct?"
"Yeah, it's a lifestyle......oh.....I get it now........."
"Ahhhhh you see my point now don't you? it's a lifestyle, people are just jealous because you have more willpower than them. You can do what they can't: go without food. If your vegetarian friend can go without meat, you can go without food. Got it?"
"Got it."
'Good" She slapped me on the back and vanished.
"Ana?" I gasped.
'Don't freak out kid, I'm right here."
"Where?!" I choked.
"In your mind, where I will be from now on. I'll always be here, but I'll come out when we have time to chat."
"Will you ever leave me, Ana?"
"If I need a vacation, yes. But then I'll send Mia in."
"Who is Mia?"
"A friend of mine, but don't worry, if you listen to me, you'll never meet her. Hopefully."
"Why don't I want to meet her?"
"She's a last resort, just don't go down that path okay?"
I yawned. "Okay Ana. Whatever you say."
"Good. Now get some sleep, you'll need it in the morning." She laughed, "I've got a killer workout planned for when you get home from school!"
"Good night Ana."
"Good night Lauren."