Chapter 15
Lila
Three days later, I looked over at the clock and, seeing the time, I had to start getting ready for my workday.
Just as I flipped the covers off of me, my phone rang.
Seeing it was the doctor’s office, I inhaled a deep breath.
Then let it out slowly.
I knew what was coming.
I’d had my labs drawn earlier that week.
Picking up my cell, I hit the accept button and brought the phone to my ear.
***
“I want you to try this new experimental drug regimen.” Dr. Harding said and then when he went to list the side effects. I winced.
Nausea. Vomiting. Headaches. Chills.
I nodded, “The chances?”
He offered me a tired smile, “About a forty-percent rate at prolonging the inevitable.”
I nodded.
That was the one thing that I appreciated about him. He was straightforward and didn’t sugarcoat anything.
“And if it doesn’t work?” I asked.
He locked his dark brown eyes with mine and nodded, “You won’t make it without a kidney. I’m surprised you haven’t been hospitalized yet.”
I took in his words.
The finality of them.
It’s been a long time since I prayed.
But I did while sitting in that cushioned grey sofa in Dr. Harding’s office.
I had just placed my hand on the door handle to walk out of his office when he called out, “Lila?”
I turned my head to look at him, “I get it. I do. Being strong and independent. But you need to tell someone. Anyone. Okay?”
I didn’t respond.
***
I had just walked out of the doctor’s office.
It took everything I had in me to make it to my car.
The moment I locked the doors, I lowered my head until my forehead met my steering wheel, and I tried.
I tried to beat the tears back.
Unfortunately, I hadn’t been successful.
***
It was time.
Time to start distancing myself from them.
This was going to hurt.