Twenty One Days Without You: A Father’s Thoughts On Anorexia

By Stephen Debros

There are sad moments in all fairy-tale lives. To my utter devastation and heartbreak, my beautiful 15-year-old daughter was admitted for a 21-day stay at the Eating Disorder Unit of a local Rehab Clinic. This is the journal I kept for her stay, while I and her mother waited anxiously for her to choose Life or Death. Anorexia nervosa, referred to simply as anorexia or "Anna" by its nearest and dearest acolytes, is an eating disorder, characterized by low weight, food restriction, fear of gaining weight, and a strong, overwhelming desire to be thin.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mudthang
• Release date: Jun 25, 2020
• ISBN: 9780463968758

Stephen Debros

Stephen Debros was born in Zimbabwe. This collection of 30 poems and reflections examines contemporary life, relationship with a "higher power" and the pain and joy of being human. If you enjoy watching life from the inside and wonder how it all fits together, this is for you.

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Twenty One Days Without You:

A Father’s Thoughts On Anorexia

Copyright © 2020 Stephen Debros

Published by Mudthang.com

Ebook Edition License Notes

This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This book may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your enjoyment only, then please return to your favourite retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work, sweat, and tears of this author.

Contents

Prologue

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Day 6

Day 7

Day 8

Day 9

Day 10

Day 11

Day 12

Day 13

Day 14

Day 15

Day 16

Day 17

Day 18

Day 19

Day 20

Day 21

Endnote

About the Author

Prologue

"Food"

The first time you held up a chip, I laughed

Crisp and thin, it was fatter than your fingers

You marvelled at its shape, delighted in its taste

You were in love with food, in awe of its flavours.

Years of cupcakes and cinnamon affairs followed

Milkshakes with pancakes dressed in syrup and cream

Birthday breakfasts of bacon, brie and asparagus spears.

Then life took a deep breath, paused and fifteen years in

Food became your enemy, each plate a battle with fear

Was it the lure of staying slim forever, a ballerina princess?

All I know is, you’re a shadow of your former self

Once plump with life, you're now a desiccated husk

Flirting with death, wrapped in puff-pastries of denial

Oh God, how I long for the days when food was your friend

When you lift a spoon, I look into your eyes, and pray.

Day 1 – Monday 25 August

You went into the clinic today for a three-week stay in the eating disorder unit (EDU). Eating Rehab. Food Rehab. Fucking Rehab. Call it what you want to. You know this. I know this. But I needed to remind myself so I know it's for real. Two friends asked me today how you are and how I am. For people who know I believe in a higher power, I talk about God and for the rest, I speak in terms of truth. I cannot say much of what I feel but when I think of you today, my thoughts are simple: "The house is quiet without R but hopefully the clinic will provide her with the care she needs right now. Thank you for your thoughts. What would be great right now is if she truly experiences God and truth in a very real and authentically undeniable way. This is my prayer for her. She will be in for 21