One More Drink

“You want to get a drink?”

 

Six words. Six little words casually spoken by an innocent man without any idea of their implications.

 

 

“You want to get a drink?”

 

It was only a reunion with an old friend; it was not supposed to become a battlefield. One moment I’m strolling down the street chatting light-heartedly with a mate from school, the next my world is threatening to crash down around me.

 

 

“You want to get a drink?”

 

To him it may mean nothing but a simple boy’s night out, but to me it means much, much more.

 

 

"You want to get a drink?" 

Anxiety, depression, obsession, not caring what I did, who I hurt, how much I lost as long it got me a pint. Bystanders attacked and robbed when cash ran low, barmen beaten and stabbed after refusing to give any more, and every last cent, possession, and shred of dignity sacrificed.


"You want to get a drink?"

Often I woke in pain, sometimes in strange places with no memory of how I got there, sometimes in ER. It was terrifying, horrifying, and killing me, but I couldn't stop.


"You want to get a drink?" 

And even when I finally did, it never quite left me.


"You want to get a drink?" 

They say half the battle is lost with the first sip. That the taste can never be forgotten, that the thirst and the craving never disappear. Those six words, and I am suddenly very aware of the dryness of my throat, the longing in my belly, the need in my body.


"You want to get a drink?" 

But I also remember what I've gained. The steady job I finally attained after years of unreliability, the spacious house I only just finished paying off the previous month, the wonderful son who admires me and looks up to me, and the beautiful wife who loves me despite everything I'd done and was the one to first help me stop.

“No thanks, I don’t drink.”

 

Half may be lost, but half is still being fought. There will be no end, no final battle; I’ll never stop wanting just one more drink.

 

But I have too much to lose now, and if I have to fight for the rest of my life, I will do it.

Author's Note

Bit of an experiment, nothing like anything I've written before.

Reviews

[Kiyo]

Many individuals deal with addiction, alchohol, drugs, whatever...it's impulsive, can take over lives until, without a fix, you find yourself doing anything to get it, like a (wo)man possessed. The battle doesn't stop at the last drink, or the final upheavel of everything you've worked towards becoming and obtaining... this story puts those aftershocks into words, where one innocent line can cause so much unresolved damage. Very beautifully written, I think.
- Kiyo

[MissWordSmith]

I LOVED the repetition. You stretched one real moment into a thousand in your mind. Which actually is how our mind works. This was so ... inspired! I loved the unique-ness of it, and the down-to-earth manner in which you contemplated that one sentence over and over again.

[MuSe Ampoule]

Really great write here. The repetition really adds solidity to the internal struggle of a recovering alcoholic. The body's craving will always remain with the internal struggle. Great job, especially for an experimental write!

[Amy Vaughn]

I love the repetition of the question "you want to get a drink?" and it's a really great idea...the struggle of rejecting something that was something you craved every single day. Maybe you should add the reaction of the person who asked the question once your character answers, but in one line, one glance, to show how your character also struggles with people reacting that way.

[Helena Parris]

I found this very moving and inspiring. Every time you repeated those "six little words," I felt the tension building. And then finally the answer comes back in five words: "No thanks, I don't drink." It really shows the constant battle a recovering alcoholic must fight just to stay healthy.

[G. K. Bostic]

Having someone very near and dear to me who has been in recovery for several years, I've come to a much better understanding of it than I once had. Your poem portrays the struggle magnificently....and the daily victory as well. I'm sorry I can't suggest anyway to improve upon it. I think it's excellent!

[OT]

really great read!!! similar to something I was thinking about! great work! the grammar and structure is tight and well done. I think the repetition was well used, though maybe some of the segments are a little superfluous and I wonder if due to its nature a shorter more impacting write would be better. I don't think it's particularly new or fresh but certainly an interesting take on it! nice job!

[Patricia Gayle]

You did a great job with this one. I really like the unique format. And it has a great, powerful message as well. I, personally, don't see anything that should be changed.

[R Lee]

I loved it. Very Honest. I also can relate to everything you wrote. I've been there. You got to the point quickly. To the point. I am new myself, so I cannot critique you very well. I have two entries myself. Two short stories both end with a poem. They both directly have to do with my personal struggle as well. Both poems are actually based on lyrics to two different songs I wrote a long time ago. Check them out if you have time. Thanks for making feel good today.

[SilentSKY]

Wow. This was excellent. Improvement isn't needed here- I was curious to know if he was going to refuse, and he made the right choice. :) love it.

[Alphachad]

Plain badassary. After reading this for a minute there, refusing a drink was totally cool. Well done. Very well done.