Chapter 2 MARIA ALICE BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH

P. O. V AUTHOR Luís was no longer coping with the delay, when he decides to get up to try again for some information two doctors appear XX - Maria Alice's relatives Luis - That's me Doctor, can you tell me what she has? XX - Well first of all my name is Oliver and this is my friend Allie and we are working together in the case of Mrs. Maria Alice Luna - what does my mother have? Allie - well Mrs. Alice came in here unconscious and if she was not attended in time she would have overdosed - very little missed Allie - is she ok then? Oliver - not exactly, we did a stomach pump on her, getting all the toxins out, for her and the babies sake ALL - BABIES????? - shocked Allie - Yes babies, well it seems you didn't know about this pregnancy did you? Luna - you said plural? am I going to have siblings? Allie - yes, young lady you will have two brothers or sisters isn't that nice? - smiles - but now we need to take care of them and their mother Luis - and how are the three of you? Olliver - well I don't know if I told you, but I am specialized in Hepatology and my colleague is an Obstetrician Gynecologist, she will take care of the whole pregnancy and birth and well in my case I will take care of her health. Alê - swallows dryly - Hepatology? What's wrong with her? Olliver - Well Alice has a very serious case of liver cirrhosis, we should start treatment immediately, but because of the babies Luna - what will happen to my mother? and my brothers? Allie - the babies are fine, one is 12 weeks and the other is 11 weeks Allie - What do you mean? different weeks? is that possible? Allie - Yes it is possible, she probably related at different times while ovulating Nick - But doctor, Alice has been using the chip for years, she always does the exchange, everything is correct Allie - Well madam, as you must know no contraceptive method is 100% safe and in this case it was not safe at two different times Luna - so you mean these babies will not be identical twins? Allie - no they will not be, well what can I say that for now everything is fine but Doctor Olliver and I have decided that for their sake and for Dulce Maria's sake we will leave her in an induced coma, we will be researching with other colleagues the best way to treat the 3. This way Maria Alice will not feel pain Alice - Is the stage of the disease advanced? Olliver - well let's say yes, but we will control and try to treat as much as possible, but we cannot rule out the need for liver transplantation Nick - can we see her? Olliver - Well, I know you are all concerned but not today, because it is past visiting hours and she is in ICU to monitor her better, tomorrow we will release her from ICU transferring her to a room and then you can visit and there should always be someone accompanying 24 hours, I do not know if you want to hire nurses or review between you, you will have time for that. Allie - well we need to take care of other patients, any questions, you can look for us, we promise to take care of the three, see you later. Luna began to cry compulsively and Luis hugged her tightly kissing the top of her head Luis- daughter don't be like that, don't cry your mother will be fine Luna - I told her that I hate her and if she dies? she will die thinking that I hate her, I don't hate her, I am just hurt, I am angry because they lied, but I don't hate her. Luis - I know honey you don't and she knows it too Luna - no she does not know that is why she did it, she wanted to die, she thought that no one else loved her, I need to tell her that I love her, I need her to be well, I need her to wake up, I need to tell her how much she hurt me but I still love her. Luis - You will say, she will wake up, her brothers will be fine and so will her mother, I am also upset with her, but let's think positive, okay? now let's all go home, we have nothing else to do here today Luna - I want to stay Alê - this is no place for you honey, let's go to grandma's house, we will rest tomorrow and you will come back Luna - I don't want anything from you and I don't want to go to your house, Uncle take me to my house, can you sleep with me? - Alexandra begins to cry copiously and shuts up. Luis - disappointed to hear Luna calling him uncle and then she notices - yes, whatever you want princess, I just need to go home and get some clothes Luna - I'm sorry for calling you dad, but everything is still very new to me. Luís - No problem, let's go, bye Nick, thanks for taking care of everything and letting us know - kisses Nick, who hugs and kisses both of them - now let's go. The two leave leaving Nick and Alexandra at the hospital Nick - Ma'am, don't be like that, she is just nervous, it's all new to her and now there is more of this from Alice. Alê - They hate me Nick, did you see the way she spoke to me, the way my son is ignoring me. Nick - They love you, they are just upset, soon they will get back to their good ways with you, don't be like that, be patient, let's go home now shall we?

Alê - I hope so honey, yes let's go home, I know you came in the ambulance so let's give you a ride, but first could you go to dinner with me? I don't want to eat alone Nick - Sure, I would love to keep you company Alê - great, I'll take you to an amazing place - smiles weakly -. The two leave, go straight to an organic food restaurant, and chat while eating. Luís goes to his house, gets a change of clothes and goes to Alice's house to stay with Luna, on the way he passes MC DONALD'S and buys a snack for each, Luna eats after he insisted so much, goes up to take a shower and soon falls asleep. Luís goes to the guest room, but takes a while to fall asleep because he keeps thinking about everything that has happened in the last 24 hours.