Chapter 8

She filled a basin with hot water to wash her mother's face, but Laura turned away. "I'm not crippled. I don't need you fussing over me."

After her mother was diagnosed with kidney failure, her father ran off with his mistress. A few years later, the TV news showed he'd been murdered by the mistress's husband.

Since he'd been a cheater anyway, neither mother nor daughter mourned much. Once he was cremated, all grievances were buried with him.

Hannah pressed the hot washcloth into Laura's hands. "Fine, wash yourself. I'll go make lunch."

She went to find Laura's medical records.

With Laura's chronic illness, she kept all hospital documents organized in a file folder.

Hannah brought the folder to Laura. "You haven't done your dialysis?"

Laura opened her eyes. "Is it time already? The days all blur together. I forgot."

Hannah raised her voice. "Get up. We're going now."

Laura slowly rose. "I know, I know. Having a daughter is like having another parent."

On the way to Memorial Hospital, Laura asked cautiously, "Do you still have money?"

"Don't worry, your daughter won't starve. I'm twenty-one now. If I run out of money, I'll get married and bring you a nice wedding gift."

Laura clicked her tongue. "Better not. With your temper, you'd give your in-laws heart attacks."

Hannah said irritably, "I only have a bad temper with you."

"Exactly. You only bully family."

Hannah glared at Laura, who immediately fell silent like a scolded child.

At the hospital, Laura went for dialysis while Hannah paid the bills.

Medicaid covered a lot, but Laura couldn't do physical work anymore. She occasionally made crafts for pocket money.

Hannah had student loans, scholarships, and financial aid for college. Living frugally, she could survive.

But she needed to support both herself and Laura.

Barely scraping by, they lived exhausted—unable to die, unable to truly live, just existing day by day.

After dialysis, as they were heading home, the doctor suddenly approached.

"Family member of Laura Sullivan, please come with me."

Hearing this, Laura joked darkly, "Great, he's only calling family. I'm definitely dying this time."

Doctor: ...

Hannah frowned. "Whatever you need to say, say it in front of both of us."

Laura found a bench. "I didn't finish high school. I won't understand anyway."

Hannah reluctantly followed the doctor to his office.

"Your mother's condition isn't good. She's showing signs of lung infection, poor appetite, and diarrhea," the doctor said.

Hannah's heart sank. "Has my mother's condition progressed to..."

The doctor finished her sentence. "I believe it's reached end-stage. The prognosis isn't good. You should get comprehensive testing at a major medical center."

Hannah nearly collapsed. The nurse quickly steadied her. "Please sit down, miss."

"If tests show no other complications, proceed with a kidney transplant as soon as possible," the doctor continued.

"Is there a donor available?"

The doctor shook his head. "Not currently. You should prepare financially so you're ready when a kidney becomes available. Before transferring to a larger hospital, your mother should be admitted here, but she just refused when I suggested it."

Hannah nodded. "Understood."

Hannah composed herself before leaving the doctor's office.

Laura asked, "What did the doctor say?"

Hannah's tone returned to its usual impatience. "Relax, you're not dying."

Laura stood up, looking relieved. "Let's go home. I want your spaghetti."

Hannah didn't move. "We can't go home. Mom, you need to be admitted."

Laura wouldn't hear it. "No way. If you force me to stay, I'll jump out a window."

Mother and daughter knew each other too well. Hannah would never abandon Laura, so Laura used the most extreme threats to avoid hospitalization.

Laura talked tough and seemed upbeat, but once she made up her mind, nothing could change it.

They faced off, neither budging.

The doctor's assistant came out. "Since your mother won't stay here, you could transfer to a community hospital, but she must take her medication."

That would be their local hospital, closer to home.

Laura only agreed to return to their small town.

After her IV treatment, Laura still refused overnight observation and insisted on going home.

Only during dinner did Hannah check her phone.

Darren had texted: Free tomorrow?

She'd taken an advance and disappeared suddenly—she should at least explain.

She quickly replied: Sorry, went back home to visit family.

Darren: When are you coming back?

Hannah: Not sure yet. I'll let you know ahead of time.

She added a cute apologetic cat emoji.

Darren stared at the emoji, as if he could picture Hannah's face through it.

He sent back a simple "OK."

He stood up, bounced twice, and shot an imaginary basketball.

Mrs. Martinez, the housekeeper who'd worked for the Lansworth family for decades, asked, "Darren, what's got you so happy?"

Darren immediately straightened up. "Nothing."

"Got a girlfriend?"

"No."

Mrs. Martinez sighed. "The Lansworth family has too many rules, always boxing you in. At your age, you should be having wild romances, enjoying your youth."

Darren leaned against the railing, catching his reflection in the floor-to-ceiling windows.

His whole life, he'd had everything yet nothing at all.

He had parents, but might as well not have.

The Lansworth name was like an invisible cage, controlling his every move.

Hannah's classes weren't demanding—she could afford a few days away. The priority was Laura's health. They needed a major metropolitan hospital with better odds of finding a kidney donor.

Her classmates were securing internships while she faced an uncertain future.

When choosing her major, she hadn't understood International Business. She'd picked it thinking it meant easy money.

Now, nearing graduation, reality had shattered those illusions.

After dinner, Hannah set down her fork. "Mom, come with me to New York."

"Not going. Big cities aren't for me. Small towns are perfect—groceries are cheaper and fresher."

"New York has better medical care. Come with me. I want to sell this house."

Laura immediately understood—her treatment had reached the expensive phase.

Laura slumped onto the sofa in defeat. "If I live, I live. If I die, I die. No more treatments. Whatever happens, happens."

Hannah flopped down beside her. "Then I'll drop out too. Just drift along. Maybe I'll marry that creepy guy down the street and get beaten daily."

Laura kicked her. "The real problem is this house won't sell for much."

"We'll figure it out. This house is our only asset."

If Hannah's kidney matched, they wouldn't need as much money. Unfortunately, she'd inherited her deadbeat father's blood type.

Laura turned away, feigning indifference. "Whatever. If you're tired of fighting, just give up. I've lived long enough anyway."