(TW: Eating Disorders, Death)
She died completely starved.
But that’s how she always wanted to die.
Thin so thin that she looked sick, and people got uncomfortable at the sight of her.
She saw beauty in starvation.
People called her thin. Said she looked sick.
She wasn’t hurt by those words.
She was happy because it was a sign for her. That she made it.
But not “thin” in her eyes.
And that was ugly in her eyes.
But whether she meant her inner or outer self she didn’t know.
Maybe it was the inner her personality.
Maybe she wanted to starve that away.
Or maybe her inner only became ugly since the day she began… and couldn’t stop.
Her love for starving made her blind.
Made her blind to the feeling of killing her body,
When people asked why and when, no one had an answer.
Maybe it just wasn’t loud and big enough.
Maybe it was too quiet and small for them to see why.
Or maybe she just wasn’t that important.
Haruki died at just 18 years.
Ironic how her name means shining sun,
although she lost her shine long ago.
But her shining left long before she left us.
I look away from her grave and at the people around it.
“I should have noticed earlier, before it was too late.” - (You did notice. It’s not like it wasn’t obvious. She showed how she was. You just chose not to look.)
“I should have done something.” - (You did. You did enough… through doing nothing.)
My eyes go back to her headstone.
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(TW: Eating Disorders, Death)
I go to her home, where the rest of the commemoration ceremony takes place.
Many people are there all in the living room.
Some are around the parents.
Some stand alone in groups.
"Why didn’t the parents do anything?"
Look at family pictures, baby pictures.
And in every single one, she’s shining with a smile.
In every photo, there’s a real smile.
No faking just her, shining.
They don’t fake anything.
But you can feel that this room belongs to someone.
Even if it’s clean it’s not empty.
A letter is lying on her bed, on the pillow.
I fold it open and read it.
And I directly see in the first lines:
"It’s not your fault. Don’t be sad. I’m sorry."
Then I read the whole thing:
"I’m dead. But it’s not your fault.
You probably ask yourselves "why"
but to be honest… I don’t know anymore myself.
It’s been so long that my consciousness forgot
but my subconscious didn’t.
It’s complicated to explain.
But if someone understands me, it’s you guys.
When the doctor told me I would die if I continue,
But then I looked at all the pictures of us together
and realized what kind of hole I’ll leave behind.
I realized that you always loved me,
no matter what I looked like.
So I wrote this letter for you
to tell you that in these 18 years,
I have and had my happiest memories with you.
I never had to be different around you.
I love you with my whole heart,
and that will never change.
I’m so sorry I have to leave you behind.
My only regret is that I give you so much pain by leaving.
I will always be by your side
even if you can’t feel, see, smell, or hear me.
I’m always by your side. I promise.
You are such good parents.
You didn’t do anything wrong.
You are and were my reason to shine.
and in any other life, world, or universe."
I see dried teardrops on the paper.
The parents read it already.
I fold it back together and lay it down again.
They look sad but peacefully sad.
Like they let go of something that would’ve pulled them down,
but still hold on to their daughter.
I say goodbye to myself before I leave.
because I know I’ll stay in their memory.
Not as a weight that pulls them down,
but with peace that makes them feel at ease.
I close my eyes a last time
This story deals with sensitive topics like eating disorders, death, and grief. Please take care of yourself while reading