And so, on the cusp of my teenage years, I was ushered into a new reality
Although I knew this was the right thing to do and had practiced my little speech dozens of times, I was still terrified. How would Mirel react? Would she be hurt? Betrayed? Angry? Would she pity me? Would she think there’s something seriously wrong with me?
“Hello, Mirel?” I said, my heart pounding, my voice shaky. “It’s Batya. There- there’s something I need to tell you.”
***
Around the time of my bas mitzvah, I began experiencing some odd but mild digestive symptoms. Suspecting a parasitic infection, my doctor first referred me to an infectious disease specialist, who later recommended that I see a gastroenterologist. After undergoing a colonoscopy, I was diagnosed with colitis, a chronic inflammation of the colon.
Although my symptoms then were hardly disturbing to my life, the gastroenterologist prescribed a mild, long-term medication for me. This, he said, would keep the inflammation under control and prevent acute attacks, which could seriously interfere with my quality of life.
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