I just finished Wintergirls and it's my favorite book. So I decided to write a little twist in time.

PROLOGUE:

Lia died 2 years after her readmission. Her body was overwhelmed and could no longer take the changes she was making.

Emma went to the funeral, cried like she was supposed to, dried her tears and kept moving.

Lia wasn't gone & neither was Cassie.

"Come on, Em-Em." They whisper in her ear. The chills no longer go down Emma's back anymore. "Five more." They coach.

Emma does five more crunches and sits up. Sweat runs down her back and she pants slightly.

"You know what time it is, Em-Em." They whisper, standing by Emma's door. "Let's go."

Emma nods and rises to her feet. She takes a quick breath, and opens her door. It's late as she pads quickly down the hallway to the forbidden room. The house is silent and she's swift, like her cats.

She removes the key from it's hiding spot and unlocks the door. Emma slides in the room, turning the handle so the door shuts quietly. She surveys the room slowly, like she always does and moves over to the boxes in the closet. Underneath the box farthest from the door, the hollowed bottom contains Emma's new secret. Emma moves the boxes and steps up.

103.25 pounds

"Good job, Em-Em." They purr. "Down 4 pounds from Monday." They stroke Emma's hair back from her sticky forehead and wrap their arms around her slim waist."Keep it up, we're almost there."

Emma pants and nods, sliding off the scale and returning it to the hiding place. She takes Lia's old sweater and pulls it over her tired body. She slips out of the room, making sure the door is locked, and lays down in her own bed.

Lia sits on her dresser across from her, Cassie draped across her shoulders smiling. They smile, approving happy smiles. "She's almost there, Lia-Lia." Cassie grins at Emma's small frame. "I know, Cass. You're doing so good, Emma." Lia crosses her thin legs and flicks her hair over shoulder, while Emma smiles sleepily. "Soon you'll be weightless." They say unison.

"Weightless." Emma repeats, closing her eyes.