The worst kind of man.
Even more so when I’d told myself that she wasmine.
And then... something... snapped.
I growled, “No.”
‘A strong woman knows she has the strength enough for the journey, but a woman of strength knows it is in the journey where she will become strong.’
– Luke Easter.
Chapter 17
Lila
“Thank you, Mom,” I told her as I sagged back into the couch.
I wasn’t sure about this new medicine regimen.
Because I had little to no energy.
And I couldn’t keep anything down.
“Of course.”
I looked over at Dad as he carried another box of my things from my bedroom.
I had driven to their house the day Dr. Harding put me on the new regimen.
And the moment my mom laid her eyes on me, gone was the smile, and in its place was one of worry.
“Mom?” I asked.
“What’s wrong, sun beam?” she asked as she made her way over to me.
“Hey, there, button, thought I hea.... what’s wrong?” Bax hurried over to where Mama stood and looked me up and down.
And seeing the worry on their faces, I couldn’t hold them in, again.
I dropped to my knees and let the tears fall.
One second after that, two pairs of strong arms wrapped themselves around me and held tightly.
After I had the tears somewhat under control, they helped me stand and walked by my side to the living room.
Once I sat on the couch in between them, I said, “Remember that day a few years ago when I told you I had the flu and it was contagious?”
My mom nodded, “Yeah. And I showed up with medicine and soup, and you wouldn’t let me in your apartment.”
I nodded, “It wasn’t the flu.”
Bax ran his hand up and down my back, “What was it, button?”
“I went into the doctor for my yearly check-up a couple of months early because I was experiencing swelling, nausea, vomiting, things that didn’t make sense.”
They both remained silent.
“They assured me it was a viral infection and put me on antibiotics. And things got better until about six months later.”
