Page 30 of Doctor Hot Mess

She nods, her gaze dropping to her lap. “I was living in Atlanta,” she says quietly, her voice thick with emotion. “It wasn’t much—just a crappy apartment, waiting tables, trying to make ends meet. I thought if I left and came here for a while, I could lay low, save up, and pay them off before they found me.”

“Birmingham was your plan?” I ask, the frustration bleeding through despite my effort to stay calm. “Lila, why didn’t you call me sooner? Why didn’t you tell me this before you just showed up?”

She looks up at me, her eyes wide and brimming with tears. “Because I wanted to fix it, Jonah. I didn’t want to be that sister—the one who can’t get her shit together and always runs to her big brother to bail her out.”

I rake a hand through my hair, pacing the small space. “So, instead, you decided to gamble with your life?”

“I thought I could handle it!” she snaps, but the fire in her voice flickers out almost instantly. “I thought if I stayed long enough to get back on my feet, they’d lose interest. I didn’t think they’d find me so fast.”

I inhale sharply, trying to keep my voice even. “And you think that's who hurt you.”

“Yes. Who else would snatch someone up in broad daylight and beat them to a bloody pulp? They didn’t just hurt me, Jonah,” she says, her voice breaking. “They left me to die. They threw me out of the car, and that’s the last thing I remember. I don’t even know how I got here.”

Her words hit like a sledgehammer, and I have to take a moment to steady myself. Someone found her. Someone called for help. Thank God.

“You’re safe now,” I say finally, my voice tight with the effort to keep my emotions in check. “They can’t hurt you anymore.”

Lila doesn’t look convinced. Her arms wrap around her knees, and she rocks slightly, as if trying to comfort herself. “You don’t know that,” she murmurs. “Unfortunately, as I've learned the hard way, they always find me.”

I reach out then, my hand resting lightly on her shoulder. “Listen to me, Lila. I’m not going to let anyone hurt you again. Do you understand? Whatever it takes, I’ll make sure you’re safe.”

She looks up at me, her eyes glassy but resolute. “I think the one positive to this, if there is one, is maybe they think I’m dead. If so, then maybe they’ll leave me alone.”

I shake my head, leaning closer. “Lila, that’s not a plan. You can’t live your life pretending you don’t exist, hoping they just forget about you. They don’t work like that.”

“I don’t know what else to do,” she says, her voice cracking. “I can’t pay them back right now. What choice do I have?”

I watch her pick at the blanket, her hands shaking just enough to notice. She’s carrying guilt, no question about it. And I can’t help but wonder if it’s as heavy as mine. The thought creeps in like it always does: if I’d done something different back then, maybe none of this would’ve happened. Maybe we wouldn’t both be so damn good at pretending we’re fine when we’re not.

I take a deep breath, choosing my words carefully. “You let me help you. I’ll pay them off. All of it. Whatever you owe, it’s done.”

Her eyes widen, and she shakes her head vehemently. “No. Jonah, I can’t let you do that. This is my mess.”

“Yeah, and your mess just got you beaten half to death and landed you in a hospital,” I say, my tone firm but not unkind. “This isn’t just about money, Lila. It’s about keeping you alive. We all make mistakes. Let me help you. It doesn't have to be like this.”

She looks away, her jaw tightening. “I don’t want to be a burden.”

I tilt my head, watching her carefully. “Lila, you showed up on my doorstep with a bruise and a suitcase, scared out of your mind. You’re not a burden. But I need to know what we’re dealing with here. How much are we talking about?”

Her shoulders sag, and she hesitates, biting her lip. “It’s not small. I'm in deep. Five figures. Closer to the high end.”

The air seems to leave the room for a moment. “Jesus, Lila,” I say, running a hand through my hair. “How does it even get that high?”

Luckily, it's just me, and I have a nice nest egg saved. But close to a hundred grand, that's staggering. I try to hide my complete disbelief and disgust.

She winces, curling into herself slightly. “I told myself I’d win it back. That I just needed one good night. But it spiraled, Jonah. Fast.”

I exhale slowly, pushing back the frustration bubbling under my skin. She’s my sister. No matter how reckless or impulsive she’s been, I won’t let her drown in this alone. “Alright. The first step is clearing the debt. Then we figure out how to make sure this never happens again.”

Her eyes fill with something I can’t quite name—relief, gratitude, maybe even shame. “I’ll pay you back. Every cent.”

“I know,” I say, and to my surprise, I mean it. Even if she doesn’t manage to, the fact that she’s willing to try might just mean she’s finally ready to change.

“If you’re serious about fixing this, we need to talk about the gambling. If I pay off these debts, I need you to agree to get some help. For real this time. If you don't get help, this is going to kill you.”

She hesitates, her fingers twisting in the hospital blanket. “I know I need to get help. I promise I will.”

"Deal."

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