Wintergirls

Lia’s mother tells Lia that Cassie had liver damage, damaged salivary glands, and a distended stomach. In other words, “‘A healthy stomach […] can stretch to hold about a quart. Cassie’s stomach could hold three’” (158). After Thanksgiving dinner, Cassie had a fight with her parents and said she was going to a friend’s house. Instead, Cassie went to the motel where she binged food, drank vodka, and made herself throw up for two days. The heavy drinking, along with her preexisting conditions, caused her esophagus to rupture. Lia decides she doesn’t want to hear any more. Lia’s mother tells Lia that Cassie’s mother, Cindy, wants to talk to her. Lia’s mother explains, “Cassie had everything: a family who loved her, friends, activities. Her mother wants to know why she threw it all away?” (161). Lia thinks, “Listen to the whispers that curl into your head at night calling you ugly and fat and stupid and bitch and whore and worst of all ‘a disappointment.’ Puke and starve and cut and drink because you don’t want to feel any of this” (161). She thinks that the question isn’t why, but the question her mother should as is why not. Lia falls asleep from where she’s laying on the couch.