Deserving Love

She dried her tears and washed her face. She looked up at the mirror, staring herself straight in the eye. Tear began filling her eyes again and she leaned over, jabbing her fingers down her throat, waiting for the stomache contents to be emptied into the sink.

"Hi Claudia... You wanna go now?" Dave asked as he wrapped his arm around her waist.

She liked it alot. She loved the feel of his hand on her waist, her head on his shoulder, their bodies so close. She felt his warm, soft lips against her cheek for a moment and smiled.

Dave was a sweet guy, always understanding, caring, loving... And though he was quite new to the love game, he played it like a pro.

Claudia nodded, pushing her long, dark hair behind her ear. "Bye mum... I'll be back by 12 as usual." She hen grabbed the house keys and left with Dave.

Once in the car, Dave turned to her, "Where to?"

"I don't know, what did you have in mind?" She giggled, knowing it would be his house again.

So Dave set off for his house.

Claudia giggled softly as Dave nibbled at her ear and neck. She ran her hands down his chest and lifted his shirt off.

"So it's gonna be like that?" He said, pushing her onto the bed and running his hands under her shirt. He stopped.

They were silent, and Claudia sat up, "What's wrong?"

Dave looked at her seriously. There was no more humour in his tone. "Why?"

She looked at him in utter confusion.

He ran his hands up arms, her neck, to her face. He gently touched her prominant cheekbones and hollowing cheeks. "I thought it was just the light, but when I felt your ribs..."

The room suddenly looked smaller. "My ribs? Oh, I've just been sick... So I've naturally lost a bit of weight."

"A bit of weight?" Dave said through clenched teeth. "A bit? Do you have any idea how fucking dangerous this is, Claudia!!"

"Why are you so angry?" She said, touching his hand.

He pulled it away. "Take off your shirt..."

"Dave..."

"Take off your fucking shirt!" He yelled.

She did so promptly, revealing her bra which was too big for her after only 2 weeks, her rib cage and her hollowed stomache. She put her arms around her waist.

Dave put her hands to his face, soon brushing his hair back, "No... This isn't real..."

Claudia looked away. "You hate me, don't you?"

He stood up and pulled the girl up and pushed her infront of his mirror. "Look at yourself. Take a look, what do you see? Is it nice? You're skin and bones girl!"

Tears began to swell at the corners of her eyes. "Don't mock me... Don't be like everyone else, don't lie to me." She turned to him. "Look at me... What do you see? Some girl who can't fucking lose weight, who can't be slim. No, never, it's her curse to be fat!"

Dave looked at her and collapsed to his knees. He soon began to cry, "Claudia, why can't you see? Why wont you go to the doctor?"

Claudia knelt down next to him, "I'm sorry..." She kissed his forehead and wiped his tears before wiping her own. "I wish I was a better person, but I'm not..." She stood up and put her shirt back on. "I don't like hurting you like this... Perhaps we shouldn't have met."

Dave turned around to see Claudia pick up her bag and go to the front door. "Claudia..." He stuttered, barely able to keep himself under control. He stood up and went to her. "Have you ever felt the fear of losing someone? It's just so bad. I couldn't ever imagine living in a world that you're not in. Please Claudia..."

She kissed him softly, "I can't take this... I can't stand being this way around you. It breaks my heart to see you cry because of what I've done. I wish I was more deserving for your affection, understanding, kindness.... You're love." And with that she left.

Dave put his face in his hands. He wiped his tears and went back to his room. Sitting on his bed, he grabbed the photo he and Claudia had taken when they first met.