When Christian had dropped me off at my house, I was a little disappointed that he didn't stay over. With my mom at work, we'd have the house to ourselves for the afternoon. Even when she came home late, she wouldn't know anyone was here. She would just get a bottle of vodka from the cabinet, a glass, and her pack of cigarettes, and retreat to her room.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBNU3tGWk5n
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The first thing I saw when I walked through the front door was an open bottle of wine on the table. That was her morning routine before heading off to work. Once I was out of her hair for the morning, she would drink until she felt buzzed, then get behind the wheel.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRO36of6zS8
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Awesome role model, huh?283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2QkFA5Rp8t
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She used to be. I used to look up to her. I used to envy her. I wanted to want to be her. Then my dad left and she completely fell apart. She started drinking heavily, and on more than one occasion she would call me from God knew where to come and get her. I was fifteen at the time, wasn't able to drive, so I had to have our neighbor drive me.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv5d1M4JfLc
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My mom was less than happy when I showed up with another person to pick her up. She actually started screaming at me in front of Mrs. Levine, yelling about how she called me to come and not some stranger. I reminded her that Mrs. Levine was a good friend of hers and had been for years.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5qyCjnpYbZ
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The yelling continued in the car, when we got into the house, and into my bedroom. I had finally had enough and shut the door in her face, making sure to lock it. Then I turned off the light and sat in the dark for what seemed like hours.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTsB2Q5pdbw
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I was brought back to the present by the ringing of my phone. I answered it quickly.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZphrT1b7w1
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"Hello?"283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ71twb5Eayo
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"Kendall? It's Dallas Alder. How are you?"283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbIvDGRyvAK
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsVWOIlKh4k
"Hi," I said, picking up the bottle and placing it back in the cabinet. I leaned against the counter, listening to the shuffle of papers on the other end of the line. "I'm okay. How are you? I'm sorry if the session freaked you out."283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYNvnPwDzzF
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG3r5UhPSS9
"I'm a Psychiatrist, it's my job to keep calm under any circumstance."283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnvFGSs1b0a
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"You've had worse cases than me?" I heard myself say.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB1BBBqJbQ3
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"I've had worse patients than you," she said softly. "Now, about next week. What time would you like to come by?"283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLpS5EPh5Kn
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I didn't know. I wasn't even thinking about that. I wasn't even sure what was in store for me for the rest of the week. I just knew that the dreams were going to get worse. I hesitated before answering.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkVsbmpDxUi
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"I don't know," I said, "let me check the calendar."283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXtfs7Sa4gn
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While I cradled the phone on my shoulder, something I hated doing because it didn't work well, I rummaged through the junk drawer that was beside the fridge. I yanked it out, figuring that would take less time, and watched every piece of crap we'd ever collected fall to the floor.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6WiHpnE65A
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"Can you hold on?" I asked.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjdIXWxRz0l
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I dropped to my hands and knees and started to clean up. Before I stood up, having gotten everything back in order, I noticed something white under the oven. Curiously I crawled toward it and picked it up. It was a folded piece of paper. I opened it and had to hold something to keep steady. It was only a few words, but they were enough to shake my entire foundation.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsCoNcsPC0z
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Your son has been adopted. It's taken care of like I promised it would be. Now you don't have to see us anymore. My daughter will never know you. Goodbye.283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0RsoTFP4vv