x
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.325Please respect copyright.PENANAeSs3yDNDTg
325Please respect copyright.PENANAKz4WEm6ZI3
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.325Please respect copyright.PENANA6TVSegl9w4
325Please respect copyright.PENANAeYoXH8SDWU
Awesome role model, huh?325Please respect copyright.PENANALrvNtT1IJy
325Please respect copyright.PENANAZ9HWtGHPrc
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.325Please respect copyright.PENANALAiVyCHq4y
325Please respect copyright.PENANAUo4MSQaRA3
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.325Please respect copyright.PENANAklYaLg1L5K
325Please respect copyright.PENANA7M85sqHaai
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.325Please respect copyright.PENANAAbZjY4nT7p
325Please respect copyright.PENANAtAw1bsD0WW
I was brought back to the present by the ringing of my phone. I answered it quickly.325Please respect copyright.PENANA2xRmdUVj71
325Please respect copyright.PENANARRJdrRqwo1
"Hello?"325Please respect copyright.PENANAyJX7XVRbfa
325Please respect copyright.PENANA9EWQnfUvYY
"Kendall? It's Dallas Alder. How are you?"325Please respect copyright.PENANA2buByBhZX2
325Please respect copyright.PENANAXvkAHPFzNu
"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."325Please respect copyright.PENANAdaspOHcodv
325Please respect copyright.PENANAYvpAnZWzTV
"I'm a Psychiatrist, it's my job to keep calm under any circumstance."325Please respect copyright.PENANAnq8PBGTuML
325Please respect copyright.PENANABXLboacxL4
"You've had worse cases than me?" I heard myself say.325Please respect copyright.PENANANwvHgZb9Xz
325Please respect copyright.PENANAuFE4tomcjP
"I've had worse patients than you," she said softly. "Now, about next week. What time would you like to come by?"325Please respect copyright.PENANA7gXkFHmlDz
325Please respect copyright.PENANADEBqSwYt0s
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.325Please respect copyright.PENANAuOSsCRk5C7
325Please respect copyright.PENANAYzWTlSlWnU
"I don't know," I said, "let me check the calendar."325Please respect copyright.PENANAw8aTxyVg0z
325Please respect copyright.PENANAorIzUX6HZh
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.325Please respect copyright.PENANAK3B0dT3MhI
325Please respect copyright.PENANANt9igytwhc
"Can you hold on?" I asked.325Please respect copyright.PENANAJz0R5q2iVv
325Please respect copyright.PENANAZrTRXhXpKX
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.325Please respect copyright.PENANAFMchxNgtym
325Please respect copyright.PENANAgJIceTZ4rq
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.325Please respect copyright.PENANAwdQbRmrvcP
325Please respect copyright.PENANAKz4WEm6ZI3
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.325Please respect copyright.PENANA6TVSegl9w4
325Please respect copyright.PENANAeYoXH8SDWU
Awesome role model, huh?325Please respect copyright.PENANALrvNtT1IJy
325Please respect copyright.PENANAZ9HWtGHPrc
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.325Please respect copyright.PENANALAiVyCHq4y
325Please respect copyright.PENANAUo4MSQaRA3
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.325Please respect copyright.PENANAklYaLg1L5K
325Please respect copyright.PENANA7M85sqHaai
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.325Please respect copyright.PENANAAbZjY4nT7p
325Please respect copyright.PENANAtAw1bsD0WW
I was brought back to the present by the ringing of my phone. I answered it quickly.325Please respect copyright.PENANA2xRmdUVj71
325Please respect copyright.PENANARRJdrRqwo1
"Hello?"325Please respect copyright.PENANAyJX7XVRbfa
325Please respect copyright.PENANA9EWQnfUvYY
"Kendall? It's Dallas Alder. How are you?"325Please respect copyright.PENANA2buByBhZX2
325Please respect copyright.PENANAXvkAHPFzNu
"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."325Please respect copyright.PENANAdaspOHcodv
325Please respect copyright.PENANAYvpAnZWzTV
"I'm a Psychiatrist, it's my job to keep calm under any circumstance."325Please respect copyright.PENANAnq8PBGTuML
325Please respect copyright.PENANABXLboacxL4
"You've had worse cases than me?" I heard myself say.325Please respect copyright.PENANANwvHgZb9Xz
325Please respect copyright.PENANAuFE4tomcjP
"I've had worse patients than you," she said softly. "Now, about next week. What time would you like to come by?"325Please respect copyright.PENANA7gXkFHmlDz
325Please respect copyright.PENANADEBqSwYt0s
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.325Please respect copyright.PENANAuOSsCRk5C7
325Please respect copyright.PENANAYzWTlSlWnU
"I don't know," I said, "let me check the calendar."325Please respect copyright.PENANAw8aTxyVg0z
325Please respect copyright.PENANAorIzUX6HZh
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.325Please respect copyright.PENANAK3B0dT3MhI
325Please respect copyright.PENANANt9igytwhc
"Can you hold on?" I asked.325Please respect copyright.PENANAJz0R5q2iVv
325Please respect copyright.PENANAZrTRXhXpKX
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.325Please respect copyright.PENANAFMchxNgtym
325Please respect copyright.PENANAgJIceTZ4rq
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.325Please respect copyright.PENANAwdQbRmrvcP