Starving

Avatar Author: someday_93 "The last page doesn't necessarily mean the end." *Right Now:* I’m an 18-year-old girl who just started college. Trying to figure this whole life thing out. So, if you don't see me for periods of time... I'm doing coll... Read Bio

She wrapped her arms around her ribcage, shivering.

Her mother never kept the heater on unless it was at least negative 20 or 30 degrees outside, so she was always wrapped in layers upon layers of sweatshirts, sitting in her bed with piles of blankets on top. She had received a new knit hat for Christmas, and she always had it pulled low over her eyes, covering her dishwater brown hair.

She didn’t mind the cold so much, because it gave her an excuse for the sweatshirts. It was because of them that her mother never looked at her closely enough to realize that she only weighed eighty three pounds, and that she could count her ribs by merely running a finger down her abdomen.

A small salad was all she needed to survive the day. Some water, some air popped plain popcorn.

She needed to be absolutely perfect. The epitome of the all-American girl.

Maybe then he wouldn’t hate her so much.

Maybe then, he’d stop.

Maybe then, she could be truly alive.

That is, if she didn’t starve herself to death first.

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Comments (7 so far!)

Average Reader Rating

  1. Avatar kaellinn18

    I can’t imagine what goes through the mind of girls who do this to themselves, but this story does offer a little insight. It makes me sad that there are people who feel this way.

  2. Avatar Catherine

    I had a friend who went through an eating disorder. It really is such a horrible problem and I think you described perfectly what goes on in people’s minds who have this.

  3. Avatar Wednesday [PJ] ((LoA))

    This is exactly what goes through someone’s mind: especially the bit at the end.

  4. Avatar Mostly Harmless

    I think this is really multi-layered.

    That title for a start – starved of what? Is it just food? No, clearly it’s self-esteem, love, support – you’ve thrown all these emotions in there, suggested but not explicit, left for the reader to feel rather than to read – and that is a skill.

    Perhaps because I can’t grasp why people would go to these extents, I don’t feel totally emotionally attached to the writing, but the emotion is definitely there – it’s probably just me.

    A very strong entry, well done – MH :)

  5. Avatar ElshaHawk (LoA)

    the thought that being so skinny is being an all american girl.. just sad.

  6. Ahfl_icon THX 0477

    Ouch, brutally painful but only because it’s such a spot on portrayal of a lot of the issues involved in eating disorders. Nicely done.

  7. Avatar Nathaniel Payne

    Wonderfully written narrative voice! You captured this inner dialogue painfully well.