-Rider- “Breakfast. Enjoy!” I teased, setting a plate in front of James. James pulled the blanket tighter around him, eyeing the food as if it were poison. It had been a few days since his fever had subsided, and we were moving on to the next phase: getting him to eat solid food. However, the task proved more challenging than anticipated. James showed no interest in eating. “Eat,” I said, pointing to his food with my fork. He turned his head, deliberately looking away. I knew his body craved real nutrition, but his mind resisted. “You need to eat,” I persisted, hoping to break through his resistance. “Is that your professional opinion?” he asked sarcastically. “I don’t need a medical degree to know the body needs food.” He shook his head. His dark mood was affecting me too, and I