Chapter 2

My eyes fluttered open, though I couldn't recall falling asleep at all. I started to call Ashley, but instead noticed someone standing in my doorway. "Really? You have got to be kidding me right now!" She yelled angrily. Her shout made my head feel as if it were about to split, so I cupped it instinctively. "Oh no. You get up. Already off the wagon." She said with no small degree of fury. I immediately felt an immense amount of shame because of the time it took Hunter, Ashley, my brother Daniel, and myself to get clean. I slowly stood up from my bed, and walked to her. Her face softened, and she brought me in for an embrace. She started whispering into my ear, "It will all be fine. Don't worry, I'm still here." I started to cry, again. Of all the things I could rarely ever do, I was crying more in the span of two days than I had cried in years. "Come on, we need to go get Daniel. He is going to help as well." She said into my ear before I released her. I nodded and went to get dressed, completely oblivious to Ashley's sympathetic look at her boyfriend.

I finally found something I wanted to wear. I pulled out my black polyester shirt and pants and put them on. "Why didn't I take these with me when I left?" I wondered aloud as I put them on. I walked out of my room and forced a smile at my guests. Ready, now?" Ashley's boyfriend asked me quickly. I knew he must have been anxious to get out of that house, because I was as well. I nodded while grabbing my phone and went to her car with her. "I'm going to try to call Daniel before we get there to let him know we're coming." I explained quickly. I dialed the number, and waited for the response, but it never came. A feeling of dread washed over me as it wasn't picked up the next three tries. "He has work in thirty minutes, and he is always on time." I stressed as we neared the apartment. I knew my dread was justified, after the last depressive episode he went through. He attempted the unspeakable. And I worried that he had tried it again. "Speed up!" I yelled after explaining the situation to my companions. Suddenly, the car lurched forward and sped towards what I hoped to be my brother and his apartment.

We arrived and I ran through the door. "Danny?!" I called out. No answer. "Daniel!" I yelled worriedly. Again, no response. And within the course of five minutes, my fears were realized. I rushed back to his room and practically knocked down the door. And there he was, lying face down on the floor. I couldn't bear to face the sight before me. Two in less than an entire twenty-four hours. Both brother and boyfriend.  I turned and walked calmly past Ashley and Alex, and out of the house. I sat on the curb thinking for what felt like days before they came to retrieve me. "I'm taking you home and we will deal with everything. No human alive should have to face this" She said with tears streaming down her face. My grief wouldn't allow me to speak, because everything slowly became numb again, this time without the whiskey. Although I decided that would help a little more than nothing. So I agreed and went back to my house.

My own corner of Hell.