𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞| 𝗆𝖺𝗋𝖼𝗎𝗌 𝖻𝖺𝗄𝖾𝗋

𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐧

( 𝗁𝖺𝗉𝗉𝗒 𝗆𝗒 𝖻𝗂𝗋𝗍𝗁𝖽𝖺𝗒 𝗍𝗈 𝗒𝗈𝗎 )

AFTER THE OTHER night with Marcus, Gwen kept her window locked, ignored Marcus like the plague at school and Shawn took notice, questioning her, wondering why she would ignore the person she loves, but he didn't know, he didn't know about that night.

Ever since that night, he's all she could think about, but most of her thoughts were consumed by her mothers usual antics, however, they were getting worse. At first, in the beginning, Anne always came home, always went to work, always stayed efficient, like nothing happened.

Now, Anne didn't return home until a day, maybe two later, and on the weekends, she'd leave Friday, come back Sunday night, it was taking a toll on Gwen. Gwen could heard the sounds of bottles clanking on the carpet floor in her room, downstairs, she could smell the house, reeking if alcohol, as if that were even possible.

It's only been two weeks, but it's felt like an eternity. Gwen found the number of Anne's sponsor, a nice lady named Julie. Julie came by the house, tried talking to Anne, didn't work, but she still came, every night, everyday, even checked up on Gwen, she checked up on Gwen so much.

Julie told Gwen she reminded her of her daughter. "She was a beautiful girl like you"

"Was?" Gwen asked as she looked up at her. What did she mean by was?

Julie took a deep breath before uttering the words that made Gwen's heart sink. "She killed herself a few years ago"

"Why?" She asked.

"Because of me, I didn't get sober, I couldn't get sober, I didn't want to be sober, and my actions impacted her, said she didn't want to be another obstacle for me" It's exactly the way Gwen feels. Like another thing in the way of her mother. Is this what all children felt like? Was it possible that Gwen too would make that vision of holding the blade up to her neck a reality?

"I'm scared" Gwen mumbled out. Scared for her mom, that if she never gets better, if she doesn't want to be sober, how will their relationship turn out?

"I know sweetie, I know, I'm sorry" Julie said as she placed a hand on Gwen's back in a comforting manner.

Gwen's she's vegan to sting with tears. "It's just, I really thought"

"I know you did, we all did" Julie assured Gwen. Gwen didn't know what to think anymore. Nor did she know how to feel.

"What if it gets worse than this?" Gwen asked Julie.

Julie knew what could happen if Anne didn't get better. It was something she didn't want to happen. Not again.  "I promise you, it won't, and you can count on me for it"

"What are you gonna do?" Gwen asked as Julie began to explain.

"Well, I'm gonna take her on a little trip" She said and Gwen looked at her, suspiciously.

"You don't mean drugs do you?" Gwen asked and Julie chuckled.

"No, not that trip" Julie said with a shake of her head. "I mean a road trip, we'll be gone for a few days, maybe a week, but it's an attempt to help her, my sponsor did this for me when my Sara died, it helped a lot"