Annorexia:

An eating disorder 

Most commonly found in teens ages thirteen to fifteen.

Caused by the avoidence of consuming

Due to the soreness of teeth

And pain of the surrounding flesh.

Parents have blamed this lack of appetite 

On a desire for perfection.

But

In reality

It's the pain of metal being shoved into our forcibly altered        mouths.

It's the embarassment of removing rubber bands in the middle  of a crowded cafeteria.

It's the ripping of delicate skin as a knife-like bracket rubs  against our inner cheeks.

And all of this

For one

Single

Goldfish.

We never chose to slowly perish

In the shadow of involuntary malnourishment.

We never chose to nibble at our lunch

As opposed to devouring the entirety.

But,

As we come to grips with the glue that binds

The prison bars to our unrelenting twelve-year-old molers,

We realize that this hunger is not a battle to be won.

It is a war of two years.

A war that must be suffered

Until the creepy cold-handed orthodontist gives the okay

And slowly

Cracks off 

Our brackets.