The emptiness inside us is not from starving our bodies of food, but from starving our souls from love.- unknown author
CHAPTER #6
It was night when Juliette was finally dropped off by her stepfather Hal. Everyone else had already left. The first words from Juliette when he saw her, surprised Peter.
"I'm hungry, is there any food left?"
He smiled, "Auggie's parents said they were sorry to miss you. His mom left you a big plate of food."
"His mom and dad are great. Do you want some?" Juliette asked as she accepted the plate of food and took a burrito off it.
"Thank you, I think I will join you. It smells so good," Peter said. He waited until she was done eating. "So how did your visit go?"
"I found out my new stepfather, is a cool dad. He was very supportive and he really does love me and my mother. Dad number 5 is the best." She paused and looked at her empty plate. "My mom wasn't just starving her body, she starved her heart from loving anyone. I finally saw her for who she was. She didn't look beautiful, she looked like a skeleton. I realized I don't want to be like my mom. Even on her death bed, she still said I was too heavy. I don't think she even saw me for me. She wouldn't admit she was really sick. She complained that the IV in her arm was making her fat. It was really sad Peter."
"Were you able to say good-bye? Did you forgive your mother?"
"I'm not ready to forgive her yet. But I did tell her I loved her and I said good-bye. I have no regrets about that visit. I'm glad I went. But I don't need to see her again. I hope it's okay that I told Hal he can leave updates on her health with you or Sophie."
"That's fine with me."
"I know you're worried about me Peter. But I'm okay. This time I'm okay. I'm done living my life for my mom. I know that I could never please her, because she was never happy with herself. How can you love someone else, if you can't love yourself?"
"You're right Juliette. It's what we try to teach everyone here; you have to love yourself first," Peter confirmed.
Juliette took off her sweater and showed him her arms. "See no new marks."
"I'm proud of you Juliette. You've handled yourself in a crisis, with strength and courage." He stood up and she accepted his hug. "Now go on, it's late and you should get to bed."
"Good night Peter." Juliette went to her dorm. She tried to be quiet when she came in, so she wouldn't wake anyone else, but she didn't have to worry.
"Jules, how are you?" Chris asked.
"Did you guys all wait up for me?" She asked in surprise.
"Even me Princess," Shelby said rolling over in her bed.
"I'm okay everyone. My mom, she starved herself to death... well almost to death. But that's not going to be me. At least I got a cool dad out of it all in the end."
"So Jules, you approve of daddy number 5?" Daisy asked.
"Yes... yes I do.... Oh no, what happened to you?"
"David lost his cool and got in a fight with Mark, calling him a fag and stuff. While they were fighting, Daisy tried to stop them. David punched her," Shelby explained.
"So what happened to David?"
"The General hauled him off to the military. I don't think we'll see David ever again. Sorry Daisy, but it's the truth," Chris said.
"I know. David just wouldn't forgive his dad for bullying him and in the end, it cost him the things that made him happy."
"Can we talk about this stuff in the morning. It's late and I'm exhausted," Shelby complained.
"Thanks for waiting up everyone, I'll be quick and then I'll turn the lights off."
The girls said good night and then went to sleep. Each thinking about the day that they had just survived. All of them knowing, they didn't want to starve their souls from love, because it was the one thing they all really needed.
