Danielle let the glossy pages run through her fingers as she flicked through the magazine. Each page failed to hold her interest. She had managed to skim read the whole of a gardening magazine in less than two minutes and now she was doing the same with a celebrity gossip magazine; photos of bikini clad celebrities flashing before her eyes. As she threw the magazine back on the side table Danielle shuffled in her chair, the cold plastic uncomfortable as she fidgeted. This was the first time she had been to Walford doctor's surgery but already she disliked it. The dull beige walls, trashy magazines and uncomfortable chairs only lead her to worry more about why she was here. The awkward silence engulfing the small surgery reception was a relief in a way - there were no unwanted glances or whispers from locals. But at the same time the silence was almost painful, the tapping of the receptionist fingers on her computer keyboard, the ticking of the clock perched on the plain wall and then the soft sound of Ronnie's breathing all went round in a circle, annoying Danielle and failing to distract her from the worry.

Ronnie had always hated doctor's surgeries; each one different but the same painful memories re-surfacing each time she found herself visiting one. This one was no different; its dull and cramp design trapping her. They had been waiting for five minutes, the receptionist assuring Ronnie that the doctor was just finishing with a patient and then he would have a free slot in which to see them. Although she was watching the seconds tick by Ronnie willed the clock to tick faster, for the hands to somehow eat away at the minutes of silence that remained. With each minute that went by Ronnie wondered whether she had done the right thing; Danielle's tense and silent appearance doing little to reassure Ronnie. Hundreds of questions, hundreds of words she wished would comfort her daughter sat perched on the edge of her lips as they sat alone in the reception.

They silence was finally broken by the sound of the surgery door creaking, muffled voices getting louder as Doctor Al and an unfamiliar face appeared. "If you just speak to Marian at the desk..." Al was saying in a hushed tone. His voice trailed off, caught mid-sentence by the sight of Ronnie and Danielle waiting apprehensively for him. Directing his patient towards the desk Al leaned over to his receptionist, whispering quietly to the woman who in turn responded to Al in a hushed tone, her eyes glancing between Ronnie and Danielle, her computer screen and then to the doctor. Ronnie and Danielle both shuffled in their seats, mirroring each other's awkward stance. "Would you like to come through?" Al said, gesturing for Ronnie and Danielle to enter his surgery.

As they entered Danielle noticed that the room was slightly more colourful than the previous one, posters and pictures adorning the walls. As she sat down on the seat by the desk Danielle looked closer and saw that these posters contained information and advice on a range of medical issues. In the face of so much confusing and sometimes frightening information Danielle drew her eyes away and instead stared in front of her as Al took his seat behind the desk. "I wasn't expecting to see you today" Al remarked as he shuffled papers on his desk. Ronnie knew he was only being polite but she wished her would avoid the pleasantries; it only delayed facing the painful truth further. Noticing that neither Danielle nor Ronnie responded, neither even changing their facial expressions Al continued. "What can I do for you today then?" Al said looking between Ronnie and Danielle. Ronnie wanted to blurt out what Danielle had said before, what she had found the courage to confess but she knew it was Danielle who had to face her problems, all that Ronnie could do was be there for her. Danielle's leg began to shake as the words seemed to stick in her throat so Ronnie leaned over behind the desk and gently placed her hand on Danielle's thigh, pressing her fingers into Danielle's skin.

Ronnie's touch almost caught Danielle by surprise, she had became so lost in the idea of opening up to the doctor that she had almost forget that Ronnie was sitting right next to her. "I...I, well I need to talk to you" Danielle began, it wasn't what she wanted to say but it was the only words she could muster. Ronnie's hand squeezed and then relaxed as she kept a firm grip to Danielle's leg. "Recently, well after the last few weeks I have been feeling sick" Danielle paused, knowing how vague and inaccurate she was being. She glanced to Ronnie, who was caught in a loving stare, her eyes fixed on Danielle. Catching Ronnie's gaze, Danielle felt like it was a comforting and supportive push in the right direction. Ronnie didn't have to say a word; she was there, by Danielle's side. "I have been making myself sick" Danielle corrected herself, dropping her gaze down to the wooden desk top in embarrassment and shame.

Al's nod and reassuring smile confirmed one of Ronnie's many fears. Danielle's problem with food had been building for a long time. Al had seen it when he had visited before but Ronnie, the person who was supposed to know her daughter the best, look after her, hadn't seen it. "Ok" Al said pushing aside the papers on his desk. "Danielle, can you tell me when this started. When did you first feel the urge to make yourself sick?" Al said slowly. "I can't really remember" Danielle stuttered. Danielle panicked as she was faced with the idea of exploring the issue further. With Ronnie she had only blurted out what she had been doing and she hadn't even planned to do that. But it was the truth, she couldn't vividly remember. Each time she had bent down before the toilet had become a cycle of continuous nightmares. Faced with confronting the whole truth just made all her thoughts, all her emotions and memories convoluted and muddled. "Ok, well can you remember why you made yourself sick?" Al asked, not wanting to push Danielle too far but still wanting to build on what Danielle had just revealed.

"I don't know, I just did it" Danielle lied. Understanding and admitting why she had done these things was harder than she ever imagined. Reading the signs that Danielle was closing down, Al decided to change direction. "Ok. Danielle can you tell me how many times have you made yourself sick?" Al asked gently. "A few" Danielle muttered in response. "And does this happen after you have eaten?" Al continued. "Most of the time yes" Danielle said. Ronnie was silent, taking in Al's questions and Danielle's answers. Danielle's snappy and brief answers still left many feelings and worries unturned but it was a step in the right direction. "Have you been eating regularly? Regular meals and snacks during the day?" Al asked. He had subtly tried to slide a pen and piece of paper in front of him but Ronnie had noticed, keen to read was he was noting down. Danielle shook her head. "Before you purge do you ever go through periods of binging?" Al asked, Danielle once again shook her head, but this time with slightly more assurance. With the conversation drying up, Danielle shutting down, Al placed his pen back on his desk.

"Danielle, I just need to check your teeth and throat" Al said firmly, standing from behind his desk and gesturing for Danielle to jump up onto the bed. Cautiously Danielle joined Al, Ronnie keeping a watchful and concerned eye on her daughter. As her leaned closer to Danielle's face her gaunt and blotchy appearance became even clearer. With a small light Al observed the scratches and red raw marks on Danielle's throats, the discolouring on her teeth. "If you want to go back and take a seat Danielle" Al said gently as he made his way back to his desk. He watched as Danielle unsteadily found her seat, her legs thin and fragile, and her arms hanging limply by her side. "Have you been experiencing stomach pains Danielle? Dizzy spells?" Al asked, once again picking up his pen and continuing with his notes. Danielle wanted to shake her head once again but after collapsing right before Ronnie's eyes before, after talking to Al the first time after she collapsed Danielle knew there was no escape from the truth on this occasion. "Sometimes yes" Danielle muttered. After making another note Al rested his pen against the wooden surface and looked up at both Ronnie and Danielle.

With the words obviously only seconds from his mouth Ronnie took Danielle's hand in her own. "Danielle after what you have told me and after examining you I believe you're suffering from what is called Anorexia nervosa." Al said gently. Neither Ronnie nor Danielle seemed utterly shocked by the diagnoses, each taking the words in but the pain and fear was still all too obvious.

I'm sorry that I haven't updated in ages but I have had computer problems and only just got my laptop back after it broke. I wasn't sure about this chapter, partly because I was just going over the details of what has been happening to Danielle that you have already read in the previous chapters. But I felt it was necessary to have Danielle going over what has happened with Al to keep the story accurate and then lead on into the next chapters. Thanks for reading and please review if you can because I always love reading everyone's feedback.