"I am sure you will be, you are no one's flower." and then without a breath and an easy look. "Take another drink."

It's not a question of whether she's strong enough because as far as Lakshmi was concerned, it never was where Beth was concerned. The girl had a sensible head on her shoulders and she would firmly state it to anyone that asked about her. She always made such things plain and obvious.

That being said - "I have fought more battles than I care to say, and I can tell you this. It doesn't matter how much you think you will come to stomach such things: it never gets easier when you gave your all to care for someone and they pass from you."