Life Without You

Chapter 28 - Unpleasant Truths

At first, going cold turkey was unbearable. As his liver was still recovering, Leon was not allowed to take Naltrexone, a drug that would help reduce his dependency on alcohol until his liver was well again. Even though his health was improving, he was still not feeling his best.

Standing in front of the full-height mirror, Leon lifted up his T-shirt and scrutinised his figure, turning his body left and right. He was not fat, but he definitely looked out of shape. Leon had been unable to exercise since he was hospitalised. Previously, he still could keep his body in shape despite getting drunk every now and then since he was religious with his weekly workouts, ate a high protein, healthy diet, and his young body was able to highly metabolise whatever he ate. After Ariel left, he stopped exercising and ceased caring about what he put in his mouth, letting more alcohol take over and wreck his body. The once enviable definition of his abs had smoothened under a layer of fat.

Leon squeezed the small bulge of his beer belly, dismayed at how big a hole he dug himself into. It would be so embarrassing to go back into the limelight. Even Brent's thin figure looked better than him despite not having much ab definition, so Brent had to cover himself from head to toe. It would take some time to achieve back his killer abs if Leon started training again. Fortunately, the rehab had a gym and a host of personal fitness trainers to cater to their patients. He would need to use their gym regularly to get back in shape.

Leon's face still looked fatigued and he seemed to have aged faster since the day he collapsed. The news agreed too, for they published zoomed in shots of his gaunt face and came out with theories that he was a drug addict or dealing with a broken heart, even to the point of blaming Ariel for his downfall. Even though Avon released a press release stating that Leon was overworked due to stress, not everyone was convinced.

Meanwhile, Brent kept up his act as the "real" Leon Waltz, this time without faltering. The news kept following on the doppelgänger without knowing he was not the real deal. They were confused on why he looked refreshed and recovered so fast after his hospitalisation. It was proof, as many commentators say, that it was not so serious after all or that the most expensive healthcare he could afford nursed him back to health so quick. Others speculated that the whole idea of him collapsing on stage and being hospitalised was a publicity stunt to boost his dwindling popularity and failing skincare line, since some of Brent's Instagram pictures featured him using his skincare products.

Leon could not help bursting out laughing whenever he thought about how well he fooled the world. It was during his gardening therapy activity that he got distracted by his thoughts again and laughed out loud out of the blue. The participators looked at him as if he was mad.

"What are you laughing at, Cody?" asked Ron Hays, a 65-year-old man with salt and pepper hair and beard, who wore large rimmed glasses and a grandfatherly smile. He was one of the senior gardeners for horticultural therapy at the rehab.

"Thinking of some funny news," Leon tried to suppress his laughter through his grin. The participants exchanged glances with one another.

"Please carry on," Ron clapped his hands at them and they continued their gardening.

Ron stood next to Leon and adjusted his glasses. "What kind of funny news? Care to share?"

"Nah," Leon waved off.

"Oh, but I'm curious. I'm interested to know what was making you laugh," insisted Ron.

Leon relented, "A celebrity."

"Celebrity? Who is it?"

"Not important."

"But it seems so to you, cos you still can't help laughing."