THERE'S NO MEDICINE, YOU KNOW THE CURE

p r o l o g u e

I was sitting on the cold bench staring down the group of soldiers ready to be sent off, my father being one of them.
I knew this was coming for a while, but I guess I never thought it would actually happen. Like, maybe he'll change his mind or maybe something will happen and he can't leave. I don't know.
I just want him to stay.
I want him to stay and Mom to be sober and for us to be a happy family again.
Maybe I'm asking for too much.
"Hey," I look up and see my father. The man who gave me life who is about to leave me. And for what? So he can fight some stupid war that no one wants him to?
He grabbed my wrist lightly,"saying goodbye is the worst part."
As if that wasn't obvious. "Seriously."
I don't meet his eye, so he continues. "I'm gonna be fine." He reassures, "it's just a peacekeeping mission."
"I know, but-" I trail off as I look at my mother.
Dad follows my gaze and then looks back at me, "your mother's fine. She's under control." I nod my head even though I know it's not true. He smiles, "there's my girl, come on." He stands up and as I follow he reassures me one last time, "it'll be fine."
'It'll be fine.'
Sure.
Yeah, it's gonna be fine.
My dad's leaving me alone with my alcoholic mom that hates me.
So yeah, everything is perfectly fine.
After my dad says his final goodbyes, I turn to my mother, "Mom, you okay?"
"Don't make a scene Eleanor." What? "Just shut up, smile, and wave."
I immediately realize how these few months without my father are going to go.
My mom will get wasted and yell at me.
I will be tormented until the day I die.
I don't know how much longer I can handle it.