Things were fine,
It was all fine.
Until that day,
She looked in the mirror,
And saw what she never hoped to see again.

You’re beautiful they all say,
You’re perfect the way you are.
If that was all true,
She wouldn’t do what her head tells her she has to.

After meals the silent click of the lock on the bathroom door,
The steady sound of the faucet running or the fan turned on.
To block out the noise that rings so loudly in her ears.

She rinses the taste out of her mouth.
She catches a glimpse of herself in the mirror,
And still doesn’t see the beauty others see.

Days of no one knowing,
Not even her parents.
Only a few of her friends.
And even then,
None of them care enough to help her.
They shrug it off and forget about it,
They say they’re here for her but what does that mean?
Those are just words.
It’s hard to tell who really cares,
Who really wants to help.
Even though part of her wants it and part doesn’t.

All you have to do is eat,
You can stop this they say.
It’s not that easy she tells them.
But they don’t listen,
They don’t understand what’s going on in her head,
That it’s not that easy,
It’s more than that to her.
A battle she has to fight,
Everyday of her life.

The constant secrecy of it all,
Is sometimes a burden on her shoulders.
But she bears it with a smile and a quick laugh to shrug it all off,
I’ll be fine she says with a smile it’s no big deal.
But inside she screams for someone to say no,
You won’t and I’m here to help you.
At first she may refuse your help,
And you may feel like giving up on her.
But inside she’ll be thanking you,
And be grateful to have someone to win the battle with.