Page 75 of Beautiful Ruin

CHAPTER TWENTY

“Because you’re still drinking, Mrs. Kai, I’m afraid we cannot put you on the waitlist for a transplant,” Dr. Maxwell said. “As we’ve discussed.”

Leilani glanced at her mom, who sat beside her.

No response.

The doctor continued. “Meanwhile, we’ll need to put you on antibiotics as you have a mild infection, which is the cause of the swelling in your ankles and abdomen. Alcohol interferes with the effectiveness of the antibiotics, so I must insist you refrain from any alcoholic intake for at least a week.”

“I’ll cut back,” her mom said.

She won’t.

Dr. Maxwell studied her, then nodded. “I’m not going to lie, Mrs. Kai, this is getting serious now. When we see infections like this appear, it means your immune system is extremely compromised.”

Leilani blanched, her chest clenching.

“Mom.”

“Stop,” her mom quietly snapped at her. “Let him finish.”

Ugh.

“If you gave your liver a chance to heal, then we could turn this around. I can’t promise anything, as it will be up to your body, but the liver is an amazing organ. Its regenerative capabilities are excellent. Under the right conditions.”

“Without alcohol, he means,” Leilani said.

“Yes, thank you, Leilani,” her mom sneered.

“Well, you don’t seem to be getting it! And we are all telling you the same thing.” Leilani suddenly cried, unable to keep her words inside.

“I can’t stop. Tell her, doctor,” her mom wailed. “Tell her it’s not that easy.”

“It is easy. You just stop. Or do you want to die? Am I not motivating enough to live for?” Leilani yelled.

Leilani didn’t care she was embarrassing herself in front of the doctor. She couldn’t just sit back and let her mother drink herself into a grave.

She was already one foot inside.

She was and didn’t seem to care one bit.

“Leilani, your mom is an alcoholic,” Dr. Maxwell said, sending shockwaves through her.

Leilani’s mouth fell open as his words sunk in. It wasn’t like she didn’t know, but hearing someone say it so bluntly was a slap in the face.

It forced her to face what she didn’t want. The knowledge that her mom couldn’t stop. Not today. Not tomorrow. Probably never.

Certainly not before her body gave out.

And that was if she wanted to give it up.

She didn’t.

“Alcoholism is a disease. One that can happen over time when people use alcohol to manage loss and stress,” Dr. Maxwell shared. “Some people are unable to manage their intake and a dependency develops.”

---