When Millicent arrived home from the Shack her relief in the potions she'd received had been the one thing on her mind. As the first potion settled her cravings however, she'd become hesitant, worried, and even gone as far as to promise herself not to go to the healers house today.
That was until new cravings claimed her and she forgot all about good intentions and the worries of becoming (being) addicted. Then it was only the potions calling, until the next one calmed her, made her think...and so the cycle began again.
How Justin had failed to notice she wasn't sure, but perhaps she was better at hiding what was going on than she thought. She got up before anyone else, took a potion while they still slept and functioned long enough to drop Ella off to school and see Justin off to work. Another potion kept her from breaking down during the day by allowing her to flee from the pain, and yet another dose kept her alert when Ella and Justin were home until the sleep potion would allow her to sleep.
She could hardly remember how long her days had gone on like this, and really it didn't matter. What mattered was the hunger when she ran out of potions. The hunger she was feeling now, as she pushed open the door to Healer Quirke's home with shaky hands, stepping inside with only one thought in her mind. Potions. To function. To escape the painful all consuming hole in her chest that reminded her that her baby was gone - that it was all her fault.