Here's a little warning: this story could potentially be triggering. However, that isn't it's purpose. I wrote it to give light on what anorexia truly is. It isn't glamourous, it's life threatening, and it should have more awareness. There will be helplines at the end of this chapter.

Elizabeta groaned. Somehow, she had been dragged into going swimming with her friends. Normally, she loved swimming; now, not so much.

"Come on, Liz!" her boyfriend Gilbert shouted in his usual obnoxious voice. "Are you afraid of some water? Kesesesese!"

Elizabeta punched him lightly on the arm. "'Course not, you prick. I'm just... just... hungry and tired, that's all."

"Then come on!"

Elizabeta followed Gilbert into the changing cubicles, shoving her boyfriend as he tried to get into one with her. Bastard, she thought endearingly.

She held her breath as she got out her skin-tight one piece out. It was nothing special, but she couldn't help but feel nervous as she put it on. She clenched her eyes closed as she put the purple suit on.

She looked down and burst into tears.

Not noisy tears, no; silent tears, the kind when you can't stop.

Get a grip on yourself, she thought. Come on, it's not that bad.

She dried her tears and looked down again.

She swore there was a bulge there.

She poked her stomach cautiously. Squishy. Wobbly. Fat.

She burst into tears again.

She couldn't- no, she never had an ounce of fat on her!

"Oi, Lizzy! You gonna be in there forever?"

Hastily, she dried up her tears. "Coming!"

Clumsily, she unlocked the cabinet door.

"I'm here."

She followed her boyfriend to the pool, while he cackled at his own jokes.

"-and then I- why are you walking like that?"

"Like what?"

Gilbert imitated her position. He hunched his back, and held his hands around his stomach. Elizabeta quickly stood up, though she left her arms awkwardly around her waist.

She ended up spending more time with the girls, namely, Lilli, Emma, Katyusha, and Natalia. She glanced at their middles; they were all so slim. Granted, Lilli was around fifteen, but even Katyusha with her 'colossal tracts of land' was as slim as a piece of paper. Great, she thought. I'm the only one with a fat stomach.

"Eliza? Are you alright?" Emma interrupted her train of thought.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just... tired. And hungry."

Elizabeta flopped down on the sofa.

"I'm going to sleep."

Gilbert frowned.

"Didn't you say you were hungry?"

Damn it!

"That was five hours ago, you prick!"

. /for_children_young_people/whats_worrying_you/anorexia?gclid=CjwKEAjw652_BRDfkebVrdOGkDISJAD0Q2RuutZSwHyob_waXxHG-dVxY5M-s6d4f38HEwmIDjL93RoCJ13w_wcB

. /info-advice/your-feelings/eating-problems/anorexia/