‘THERE ARE THREE OF US IN THIS FRIENDSHIP’

Hannah, 32, says: ‘The first time I knew Laura was very unwell was the night of my 18th birthday in August 2009. She’d been wrapped up in a relationship for months and nobody had seen much of her. Although I’d noticed she was slimmer than normal, it simply hadn’t registered how much weight she’d lost, until that night. For once, she wasn’t wearing loose clothing, and she looked so frail. Privately, I burst into tears – I just didn’t know what to say or do.

‘A week later, when she texted to say she’d been admitted to hospital with anorexia, I felt relieved. Naively, I believed she could be “fixed” and we could get back to normal. Fifteen years on, I still worry about Laura every day, but I’m in awe of what she’s survived.

‘There are three of us in this friendship – me, Laura and her eating disorder – and there’s nothing I can do to change that. It’s painful to watch someone you care about inflict such harm on themselves, but I could never walk away from her, like other friends did.

‘People may imagine our friendship is one way, but that’s not the case. She’s wise and an amazing listener. She was at my wedding to my husband Callon, 33, in 2022, and was one of the first people I told I was pregnant. She dotes on my eightmonth-old daughter Betsy.

‘When you have a friend with an eating disorder, it’s impossible to shake off the worry the disease will come for them again and you might lose them next time. But Laura is in such a great place right now. All I want is for her to remain well and happy, and never lose her sparkle again.’

✱ For advice and support go to beateatingdisorders.org.uk