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.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp1EqVO7gXH
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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.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡARQqWIWauO
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Awesome role model, huh?437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyLnu8zuKM4
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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.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWPt56mceJQ
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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.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrU3kCnOuK4
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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.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7FEWK2H5iB
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I was brought back to the present by the ringing of my phone. I answered it quickly.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpDld1NetIL
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"Hello?"437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBuJY6Mqiid
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"Kendall? It's Dallas Alder. How are you?"437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSzgyO9y67M
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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."437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM5TARU2C30
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpU3KoqsUCH
"I'm a Psychiatrist, it's my job to keep calm under any circumstance."437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ34sPxg2B8s
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"You've had worse cases than me?" I heard myself say.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ33Cxb4BlL
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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?"437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxK6IYCYztE
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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.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvBi9Xg2fMZ
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"I don't know," I said, "let me check the calendar."437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjlXVRFgPsK
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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.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZTprQk456
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"Can you hold on?" I asked.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYxP3Xdjrl5
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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.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwcLZvLprLS
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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.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7CVp3ZilDe