flashback

"Mrs. Weston?" Belle turned around to see Ashley from her fourth period class standing uncertainly in the doorway.
"Hi Ashley. What's up?" She twisted her hands and looked up at Belle. She and Ashley had never been especially close but the child was quiet and attentive and never caused any problems.
"I...I have this friend..." Belle's ears perked when she heard 'this friend' because when kids said that, they usually meant themself. "And she has a problem...."
"What kind of problem..." Ashley finally looked into her eyes and said "She doesn't eat. She thinks she's too fat." Belle swallowed and began to explain to Ashley that the behavior was not healthy...but finally she stopped.
"I know someone who had that problem."
"You do? Who?"
"Me." Ashley stared. "Really? Why?"
Belle passed her hand aross her eyes. In her head, she saw a tiny girl in ballet class weighing herself on the scale in the dressing room. Her leotard hung on her. The girl tied her toe shoes on and began to warm up. Her bones were no longer strong enough to support her and she collapsed..and the rest was a whirlwind of psychiatrists and intravenus tubes.
Aloud she said, "When I was about 13, I was really unhappy and took it out on myself. It was easy...I just said i was on a diet for ballet...no one noticed..until i collapsed in dance class...I'm sorry, Ashley, I didn't mean to get so personal ..."
"What happened to you?"
"I had to go to the hospital for tests and they made me eat."
"Did you feel better?"
"My body felt better but I was still sad."
"How come you were sad?" Ashley pressed as Belle shifted uncomforatbly in her chair.
"I don't really know..." Belle glanced at Ashley, who she now noticed was so pale that her skin looked transparent. "Are you sad?" Ashley didn't answer but they both heard the bell signalling the end of the period. Ashley got up to go.
"Ashley..." Belle said. "Let me know if I can do anything.