Twist (Off Balance 4)

"Since I missed it last year, I came to celebrate your big day. I have an awesome surprise planned for you that no one will ever be able to top."

I continued to stare, dumbfounded. "I can't believe I forgot!"

"We'll just blame it on the lupus."

For once I could laugh about being sick.

"So I'm coming with you tomorrow to your doctor’s and then I'm taking you out."

My happiness faded a little. The thought, though it sounded like loads of fun, was short-lived.

"I can't. I have practice after."

Avery shook her head, her blonde locks swaying across her face. "You don't," she said proudly, and popped a piece of popcorn into her mouth. "I cleared it with Kova. You're mine for the entire day."

Brows scrunched together. "What? How?"

She looked extremely proud as she wiggled her shoulders from side to side. "I have my ways."

I felt a smile tug at the corner of my mouth. My lips twitched. "For real?" I chuckled.

"Yes! I have the whole day planned. I've been looking forward to this, you have no idea. You're going to love it! Just trust me on this one, okay?"

I threw my arms around her shoulders and squeezed her as tight as I could. "I haven't taken a day just to hang out in ages; I usually just sleep on my day off. You're seriously the bestest friend ever!"

"I know I am." She joked, pretending to flip her hair even though it's tied up. "Now let me get back to my future ex-husband."

Then she said her next set of words so quickly I don't think she took a breath.

“Oh, you'll have to be at practice at six the following morning and take an extra ballet class, but don't worry, it'll be worth it."

Forty-Six

"Do you want the good news or the bad news?" Dr. Kozol asked me.

I gave him a bland stare.

"I don't know, Doc, how much worse can it possibly get? I’m basically on my last leg."

"At least you haven't lost your sense of humor." Avery snickered next to me, and I grinned at her.

/> Dr. Kozol flipped open my file, his merry expression not going unnoticed. It was good to see my doctor had a sense of humor too. It helped me a little, mentally.

I'd already given blood and had done the usual physical. Now we were sitting in his office with the door shut reviewing my treatment plan and making sure the medicine was helping maintain my symptoms. I'd gotten to the point I knew this was par for the course every time I came in.

"The bad news is, while I'm going to send out your urine sample along with your blood work, your protein is still rising. Not by much, but enough to have me concerned. Have you been sticking to your new diet plan?"

"Yes, I have."

"That's good. And your medications? How are they working out for you?"

I hesitated. There were some side effects I'd gone through, but overall, they weren't too bad. I really didn't want to test out new medications.

"It took some time to adjust to them, but now I think they're okay. Like if I don't eat with two of them, I get really sick to the point of vomiting. I learned to follow the rules on the side of the bottle. I don't take any of the pain medications, though. I try my best to push through it. For the most part, the meds seem to be working, I guess."

He nodded and scribbled a few things down. "It's really all trial and error, as no two patients are the same," he said, reviewing my patient chart. Dr. Kozol paused to level a stare at me. "And none of them usually forgo treatment either."

Grimacing, I flattened my lips. I knew the risks I was taking, and I also knew if I didn't take them that I would regret it. Under normal circumstances I wouldn’t have prolonged dialysis. I would've gone to the hospital for further testing like he originally suggested. It was just hard to grasp that after coming so far I would stop everything now. A few more months wouldn't kill me. Hopefully.