her father leans in her doorway and looks into her eyes. theres no glint, no shimmer-- just a dull reflection of the grim reaper looming behind his shoulder.

"don't you think you should eat something? it's been a few days," he swallows hard, holding a piece of toast to his diminutive daughter.
she glares at the food as though it had teeth bared and a hunger for fingers; her frail arms stayed glued to her sides as her father continued to hold it to her.

"please baby, i just want you to be eat," he insists one last time as she finally reaches out and nibbles on the crust, just like the hamster.
"and from now on, you're eating."