Page 151 of Fighting Chance

A literal doctor diminishing and invalidating the disease I was diagnosed with close to ten years ago. The one that, contrary to his stupid beliefs, is very real, so real in fact that I participated in a year-long trial run of medication that has thankfully stopped my flare-ups.

But no, this small-minded doctor who no doubt became one over forty years ago doesn’t want to learn anything new. There is nothing worse than a doctor unwilling to learn as they age.

And yet my stupid tears won’t stop flowing. Usually I’d call Bella but I know Allie and Carlton are back in town again for a few days and she’s dealing with her own heavy feelings of not having her mom around.

So I dial the one person I know I can always count on.

“Hi honey, how did it go?” Mom says sweetly, answering after the first ring.

She’s always quick to answer. Once I got sick, she made it her personal mission to never miss a phone call again after one of theschool nurses tried to call and she missed it. I was sick in the nurse’s station for over three hours and had to be hospitalized due to dehydration.

She never forgave herself for it.

Letting out a shuddering breath, my head drops back on the headrest. “Could have gone better.”

Some might think it’s odd I told my mom I was going to the doctor to be put on birth control, but she’s nursed me back to health for so long that she’s already seen everything.

“Oh no, what happened?”

I laugh, but it holds no humor. “Would be easier to answer whatdidn’thappen. I didn’t get a kind or friendly doctor, I didn’t see someone who asked what medication I was on, and I didn’t see a doctor that thinks lupus is real.”

My mom’s sudden intake of breath has my eyes closing. “You’re kidding me,” she hisses over the line.

“I wish I was.”

“Did he not see on your file that you were in Berlin getting treatment for the disease?”

“He barely skimmed it. I had to force him to triple-check that I could take the birth control he was giving me with my current medication, and then as I left he said he hopes I figure out how to make my weak immune system better so I don’t keep catching ‘bugs.’”

“I’m going to strangle the bastard.”

“You and me both.”

“I can’t believe there’s still doctors who don’t believe…even with all the evidence to prove it.” I can hear the tiredness in her voice, the devastation.

“People are stupid.”

“They’re thick-headed, that’s what they are.”

My gaze flicks to the time on the dash. “Thanks for letting me rant, Mom. I have to get back on the road though.”

“Okay, sweetie, please call if you need me, okay? I’m just one click of a button away.”

Now I smile, a real one this time. “Thanks, Mom.”

Hitting end, I flick my blinker on and pull back onto the road,stealing myself as I drive to not Kieran’s house but my best friends.

Doing this after my doctor’s appointment might not have been the best decision. My stomach is still churning with anger, simmering at his words, when this moment should be special. At least, I want it to be.

I don’t want to feel the lingering anger, but here I am, shaking off the ugly grime and smiling wide as I watch my best friend come to answer the door. Bambi comes barreling in behind her.

“Hey! Best surprise ever, what are you doing here?” she asks.

She opens the door farther, inviting me in, and as I walk through Bambi’s tail wildly thumps the door, the walls, the entryway table, and she’s none the wiser.

“Well, surprise it is, because I have something for you.”

Bella chuckles as she ushers Bambi to the living room where her tail can’t knock anything over. When she turns back to me, I find I’m suddenly nervous.