Ana

I met a girl named Ana
Who spoke to me one day.
She told me wonderful things
Like how to be perfect in each and every way.

She mentioned that she had a secret
One that very little knew of.
I was dying to know what it was, so I begged and begged.

She finally told me what she had to hide.
"If I tell you my secret, you have to keep quiet."
I promised not to tell a soul, to keep it on the inside.

"I am the embodiment of perfection and beauty."
Her voice was soft sounding and smooth.
I asked her, "how do you do it?"
Ana looked at me and said, "I can show you. But if I show you, you have to do it too."

Ana held my hand and explained to me
How I could be just like her
How much discipline it took to be perfect.

"A slave to the mirror" was what she wanted me to be. She said she could help me become perfect.
"The first step is all about sacrifice." She'd tell me all the time.

"Don't eat this, don't eat that either!" Became a familiar phrase for her.
"Pretty girls can't eat if they want to be perfect. You want to be perfect, don't you?"
I'd just nod and obey.

I worshipped the scale, but I valued Ana more.
She was all I had. All I wanted.
On the days I felt faint, when I started growing pale and weak,
Ana was there.

She was a part of me.
"That's what friends are for."

One day I asked her, "how will I know when I become perfect?"

To which she replied, "count the bones you see on yourself. Check the scale. The lower the number, the better."

I followed her instructions, did what I was told.
The scale number decreased; I felt lighter.
 The lighter I became, the more aggressive Ana was.
The more she pushed me.

"I can't do this anymore!" I finally cried out to her.
"It hurts too much to continue!"
Ana sighed and smiled, putting her hand on my shoulder.
"Pain is beauty, and beauty is perfection. You're almost perfect, don't stop now."

But not even Ana's words could give me strength.

With every step I took, I felt my bones grow more frail.
My heartbeat was slower than ever.

I knew I was dying, but Ana wanted me to keep going.
But I couldn't.

..thump, thump...
..... thump.... thump....
... thump.......... thump........
............. thump............. thump.......
...........
....

"Best friends forever" she whispered to me as she stayed by my side.
Counting my bones and holding my hand
Up until the moment I died.

I had a friend named Ana
Who changed my life
Forever.