They continued to be on opposite schedules for the next few days but then they finally had two days off together. The moving turned out to be less time consuming than they had thought, it turned out that Carina did not have an awful lot of stuff. In the afternoon therefore, Maya headed out for a run. The more time Carina spent with her girlfriend, the more her worry grew. Maya's entire behaviour was just... off. She was different. It was as if she was hiding something.

"Which she is if my suspicions are true.", Carina thought. She had also called Andy and Vic and had tried to casually enquire about Maya. They had both seen right through it and had told her that their captain did seem to have withdrawn from the usual team everyday life, especially at meal times. She apparently often claimed that she wasn't hungry, had already eaten at home or had so much paperwork that she couldn't eat with them. They admitted that they were also starting to be concerned for their friend and superior. Carina had called Maya several times during her shifts and tried to casually ask whether she had eaten -for example- dinner yet.

Maya's tone had always become more irritable whenever she brought it up and this combined with Maya's friend's and colleagues observations lead Carina to believe that her worries were indeed reasonable.

She knew that Maya would blow up if she found out that Carina had a not only studied her behaviour but also gone behind her back and talked to Andy and Vic about her, however Carina was really scared for her girlfriend's psychological and physical wellbeing at this point. She was planning on trying to bring up the topic within these next two days.

Carina couldn't help but wanting to try to prove her theory by pushing Maya a little though, so she decided to to make Spaghetti Carbonara for dinner, a rather challenging food for someone who might be anorexic. Maya only returned after more than two hours when Carina had already finished cooking. Maya seems beyond exhausted, more than was normal for the former Olympian athlete and headed straight into the bedroom only half-heartedly acknowledging Carina and the food. The Italian had prepared the dinner table by lighting candles pouring red wine. It was as close to a date night as one could get during the pandemic, the restaurants were all closed after all. Maya finally emerged from the bathroom after more than half an hour which was another thing that Carina could only add to the list of Maya's odd behaviours. Seeing her standing there in jeans and a white t-shirt her dramatic weight loss was undeniable.

"You must be hungry after that run.", Carina said, knowing that the statement was almost provocative.

"Um, yeah. Well, I'm not that hungry, actually. What did you make?", Maya tried to divert the question.

"Spaghetti Carbonara", Carina smiled.

"That looks delicious.", Maya tried to compliment her girlfriend but it wasn't convincing at all. They were making light conversation but Maya seemed incredibly tense all throughout the mealtime. She hardly drank any wine and claimed that she had to rehydrate with water. In the end, she did manage to eat the entire portion to Carina's relief but it looked like she was forcing herself to eat rather than enjoying it. After clearing the table and tidying the kitchen Carina proposed that they could watch a film or some TV. They settled on some Comedy, neither of them was really paying any attention to it anyways. Carina wrecked her brain about how to talk to Maya without her blowing up. There wouldn't be a better time than this evening. Maya looked distracted and seemed to be in her own world. Half an hour into the movie, Maya excused herself and went into the bathroom. At first Carina only heard a few coughing sounds but it was soon replaced by the unmistakable sound of someone throwing up. The doctor muted the TV and after hearing it again, made her way over to the bathroom. Another round of vomiting and the toilet was flushed.

"Bambina, are you okay?", Carina asked while softly knocking on the door.

"Yeah... yeah, I'm fine.", Maya replied slightly out of breath.

"Can I come in?"

"Um, yeah. Just a second." The tab was turned on and half a minute later Maya opened the door, a few beads of sweat on her pale forehead.

"Maya, ... did you just get sick?"

"No, I..."

"Maya, you don't have to lie. I heard it.", Carina said more fiercely.

"Um, yeah. I really liked your food... I guess I just have an upset stomach today...", Maya was avoiding Carina's gaze but her voice was just as firm.

"Come on Bambina, you don't have to hide it. You can tell me...", Carina tried to deescalate more gently, taking Maya's hands.

"What? Are you implying that I'm... I'm an anorexic?", she pulled her hands back from Carina, her voice getting louder, "I'm not a teenaged girl who starves herself to get attention."

"Bambina, I'm not saying that. Not at all. It's not your fault. It's an illness, no one is choosing that. It's okay, we can get you help. You don't have to go through this by yourself."

"No", Maya was exasperated, "no! You've got this all wrong. I just chose to be a bit healthier and not as fat as I used to be, I..."

"Maya, you were never fat.", Carina interrupted her. "You were healthy, muscular and athletic. But right now you're underweight and you look sickly."

"No, I'm not! I just had an upset stomach today."

"Bambina, I talked to Andy and Vic and they told me..."

"What?!", Maya shouted, interrupting Carina, "what did you say? You went behind my back and... and..."

"I'm just worried about you and your friends are, too.", Carina tried to calm Maya down.

"I can't believe this. I... I have to go. I'm...", Maya stuttered, walking towards the front door.

"Maya, please don't leave again, I just want to help you.", Carina pleaded but Maya just slammed the door shut behind herself. Carina sank to the floor and tears started streaming down her face.