Growing Pains by Brooke Jett (Ohio, 20)

Trigger Warning: Eating Disorder 

Summer stared at the plate of food in front of her, attempting to swallow with her mind before swallowing with her body. No big deal, just eat the food. Just do whatever your body needs you to do to survive, it shouldn't be hard. She gulped down the pieces of steamed broccoli and chicken with an orange on the side. She felt guilty. All of the fitness coaches around her said fruit had “too much sugar” and she would eventually get diabetes. The doctors said that’s not true however.

Whatever, no matter. Yes it’s hard to eat and not compulsively exercise after but it’s not the end of the world. I’m fine. Everybody is so dramatic. She thought constantly to herself. She tugged at her sleeves, showing her discomfort. Her mom looked at her in fear, knowing what would happen if she had to go to the clinic again.

“You okay honey? How are you feeling with the chicken?” She said as she touched her daughter’s hand, attempting to reassure her.

“The chicken’s fine mom, thanks.” Her mom looked at her pick around her plate and began to see visions of her past self. The girl that would wolf down any plate she put in front of her, and would become so lively and animated while talking about volleyball or choir. Now she just sees a ghost, and what exactly do you do with a ghost of someone who’s still around?

“Can I be excused, please?” Summer said in a pleading tone. Her mom wanted to abide by her wishes but she knew for the sake of her health, she couldn’t. And it was one of the most painful parts.

“Um...why don’t you eat a couple more bites of the chicken, at least?” Her mom said, looking around the room, hoping to avoid an outburst.

“Please mom...my stomach hurts. I don’t know how much more I can eat right now. I just wanna lay down.” She said in a more agitated tone, one that made her mom more afraid than anything.

“Summer, please just eat something. You know we’re here for you through the whole thing.” She said in an exhausted tone. She knows it’s just the illness catching up with her, but hearing your 16 year old daughter say she won’t eat anything is one of the most heartbreaking things a parent could hear.

Summer heaved a sigh, and attempted to eat a few more bites of chicken. She too missed who she once was before this eating disorder took hold of her, but the grip it had on her was too much for her to escape at this point.

Her mom watched as a tear began to trickle down Summer’s face onto her plate. Her body was wracked with guilt, but she knew it had to be a part of the process. Summer ate some more of her food until her plate was mostly empty. Her mom touched her hand again, to reassure her.

“You’re doing good sweetie. If you want to be done now you can.” Summer nodded, and ate one more bite of her orange and washed her plate. She stopped herself in the doorway before going back up to her room.

“Thanks mom. Love you.” She said before going back up to her room. And her mom was now able to breathe, for a moment.




Brooke Jett is a 20 year old Junior Creative Writing major that goes to Ohio Northern University. She is from Huber Heights, Ohio and hopes to continue writing and publishing in the future.