The nerves of the skin send pain signals to the brain to warn us of the danger from and impending injury. In the case of self-inflicted wounding, this pain acts as the body's own defense mechanism to stop one from… — Steven Levenkron Copy Share Image
Kessa ran her fingers over her stomach. Flat. But was it flat enough? Not quite. She still had some way to go. Just to… — Steven Levenkron Copy Share
The nerves of the skin send pain signals to the brain to warn us of the danger from and impending injury. In the case… — Steven Levenkron Copy Share
Repetition brings familiarity, and familiarity is the opposite of the unknown. — Steven Levenkron Copy Share
Self-mutilation is a frightening barrier that keeps us from seeing a person who is lost, in pain, and in desperate need of help. — Steven Levenkron Copy Share
“[. . .] and in addition to the feeling of being full there was another more terrifying one, as if a hundred appetites were… — Steven Levenkron Copy Share
“This morning Kessa was in control again. She lifted her left breast with her right hand and pinched it hard. The girl in the… — Steven Levenkron Copy Share
She lay on her back and walked her fingers down her ribs, skipped them over her abdomen, and landed on her pelvic bones. She… — Steven Levenkron Copy Share
She'd lost two more pounds. A picture of the models she'd cut out of the magazine flashed through Kessa's mind. And the winner is...… — Steven Levenkron Copy Share
“Well, Kessa, I am glad to see that you're taking your body seriously. I shudder when I see the girls leaving class and heading… — Steven Levenkron Copy Share
She ran her hands over her body as if to bid it good-bye. The hipbones rising from a shrunken stomach were razor-sharp. Would they… — Steven Levenkron Copy Share
“Fat bitch," Kessa murmured as the door scraped closed behind Mrs. Stone. "She meant well, Francesca. And you see, everyone thinks you're too thin."… — Steven Levenkron Copy Share
Soon I'll be thinner than all of you, she swore to herself. And then I'll be the winner. The thinner is the winner. — Steven Levenkron Copy Share
How silly people were to eat. They thought they needed food for energy, but they didn't. Energy came from will, from self-control. — Steven Levenkron Copy Share
Kessa began to cut her meat into tiny pieces. As a whole it was unmanageable, frightening; but divided and arranged, the meat could be… — Steven Levenkron Copy Share
“She used to look forward to changing in the locker room when other girls stole shocked glances at her emaciated body last spring. Now… — Steven Levenkron Copy Share
