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.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ41KCfwpftO
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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.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzL2vZzZE32
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Awesome role model, huh?485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGcBJxHnkuE
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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.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRwynQgBB7J
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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.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJHsPHd0WKO
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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.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWahMMvKFHM
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I was brought back to the present by the ringing of my phone. I answered it quickly.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjtlWmfb3LQ
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"Hello?"485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlE6MhCb33v
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"Kendall? It's Dallas Alder. How are you?"485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFc5gezS7Fs
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"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."485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdMqrUgyQmz
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"I'm a Psychiatrist, it's my job to keep calm under any circumstance."485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWXm71MUbNP
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"You've had worse cases than me?" I heard myself say.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1UGp3J7DQ
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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?"485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1IOYkwAdE3
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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.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQIBwlWq77M
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"I don't know," I said, "let me check the calendar."485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlU032i36BD
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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.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEytXbAt4Kv
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"Can you hold on?" I asked.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡniJnezZ3vX
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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.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmPnpxkOP5t
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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.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqMbxfRc9Vw