Chapter 8 - A Humbling Begging
The medical bills from the second hospital trip ruined Susan and her husband.
They had remortgaged their house to help Diane stay afloat.
Now, they had nothing.
One rainy Tuesday evening, there was a knock on my door.
I opened it to find Susan, Mark's dad, and Diane standing on my porch.
They looked defeated, soaked, and pathetic.
Mark came up behind me in the hallway.
"Mom? Dad? What are you doing here?"
Susan burst into tears.
"We need help, Mark. We have nothing left."
Diane refused to look at me. She stared at the floor.
"Come in," Mark said, his voice soft with pity.
I stood my ground, blocking the doorway.
"No," I said.
Mark looked at me, shocked. "Laura, it's raining."
"I don't care," I said.
I looked at Diane.
"The last time she was in my presence, she assaulted my child."
"It was six months ago!" Susan cried. "She's suffered enough! We all have! We just need a loan, Laura. You make good money. Just to help Diane get back on her feet."
I laughed. A cold, hard laugh.
"You want my money? The money I make as the doctor you constantly disrespected?"
Diane finally looked up.
Her eyes were full of venom.
"You ruined my life! You knew what was going to happen!"
"I didn't put the tick on your neck, Diane," I said smoothly.
"I didn't force you to eat a steak to prove a point."
"You could have stopped me!"
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"Why would I?" I asked softly.
"You hit a four-year-old boy. You laughed. Why would I ever lift a finger to save you from your own stupidity?"
