#Chapter 42: Put in the Work

Hannah I stood in front of the full-length mirror, my hands trembling slightly as I drew in a deep, steadying breath. Slowly, almost as though I was afraid of seeing my own skin, I lifted the hem of my oversized t-shirt and bared the pale expanse of my midriff to my own scrutinizing gaze. There it was—the slightest swell of softness rounding out my stomach, the faintest hint of curves returning to my hollowed frame. My ribs weren’t quite as pronounced beneath my skin as they had been mere weeks ago, the sharp ridges giving way to a smoother, healthier silhouette. I had gained weight. I should have been happy, but… I wasn’t. A flicker of panic lanced through me at the sight of my belly, that ever-present voice in the back of my mind whispering its cruel taunts. You’re getting fat again. Disgusting. Weak. Unlovable. I squeezed my eyes shut, forcing the toxic thoughts away as I focused on the breathing exercises I had learned in counseling. In through the nose, out through th