Because, its the first time

It was a lot to take in, all this information from the doctors at the hospital. Simon thought he might sink to a whole new level of pity. He didn't know if he was listening or not.

There was the counseling they scheduled. The visit to the nutritionist. When would he have time for drama?

He didn't want to cause any problems. Couldn't they see he wanted to be left alone?

But it was his mother who's voice rose to a whole new irritating level.

"Don't you understand?" She laid it out for him when they were alone in the hospital room. "You have to eat!"

Her words were like knives cutting him in to. He couldn't think of a word to say. Finally, she left him alone, and he cried miserably thinking the world would end.

He needed to get back to the grind of his life, and forget this little episode ever happened. Simon wanted to believe he was OK.

While he was trying to get back on track with his thoughts about what he was doing at the theater (still, in his hospital bed), Valentina showed up with a basket of fruit and muffins.

It was good to see her smile. She told him she'd mentioned to the cast that he was recuperating from what was going around. They'd all sent him cards and chipped in with the basket of goodies. There were bags of M&M's and protein bars under the fruit.

Simon sighed as he listened to her, knowing he needed to tell her he shouldn't see her anymore. He really didn't want to bring her any sadness, nor to let her know he did have an eating disorder.

"Uh, there's another thing." She almost winked with a smile.

"What?" He looked at her as if she was going to tell him he missed a big test he forgot about.

"I got a job."

"A job?" He winced, thinking when did that happen.

"Oh, I had applied some time ago, and well, the bakery didn't need me then, and I'm still not old enough to really work too many hours. It'll be just Saturdays."

"Huh." He was in a state of shock.

"I'm sorry," Valentina said. "You, were..so good to me." She looked as if she was about to cry.

"I was?" He looked at her blankly, remembering what he'd told his brother once. How she was so much like him.

"It's OK." She was even lipped. "We can text, some time." But she looked at him, as if he would not have too.

He nodded, but he wasn't sure if he would.

"The whole cast is coming, I'm sure they'll cheer you up. Let you know what's going on." But she sniffed back tears.

She hugged him then.

It was the first time, he realized just how much he'd miss her, and Simon didn't want to let her go.