The Only Cure

Episode 46

Lauren: Baby, can I show you something?
Lexi: Sure my love!
Lauren: I've, b-b-been ripping out my eyebrows and eyelashes lately, for some reason it makes me feel good.
Lexi: Awww babe, that looks painful, are you still using the JUUL?
Lauren: Yes, it doesn't always help though. I know baby, I'm ugly and a mess
Lexi: No your not babe, stop it! You are beautiful my love. Give me a kiss. How about we all have a family meeting to discuss this? I am so proud of you for being brave and telling me this.
Lauren: hey y'all, can we please have a family meeting, it's urgent.
Christina: Sister meeting everyone, alright Lauren, you have the floor!
Lauren: Okay, listen y'all, I've been ripping out my eyelashes and eyebrows lately and I can't seem to stop, it has actually helped me a lot more than the JUUL. I barely have any eyelashes, it's mostly stubs and my eyebrows have empty patches. To make matters even worse, I've been chewing on the hair I rip out.
Christina: Laur, you are such a beautiful girl, we are going to help you, thank you for being so vulnerable and sharing this with us, I'm sure it wasn't easy.
Katherine: Wow Lauren, you are so incredibly brave for sharing this with us. You are worth it and we love you.
Amy: Aww Lauren! Your the best baby sister I could ever ask for!
Lisa: I looked up your symptoms on WebMD, it looks like based on your behavioral pattern you have trichotillomania. We are going to help you get through this.
Lexi: I love you baby, it's okay. I will always love you. babe, how about you take a few hits from your JUUL to distract you from your eyebrows?
Lauren: I guess I could... mhmm I love the taste of the mango pod. That felt amazing. I still feel like ripping out my eyebrows I mumble quietly. I am gonna go um take a nap if that's alright with y'all.
Christina: That's fine. Lexi, why don't you go keep Lauren company. Please Lauren take care of yourself. I love you baby sister!

* Lauren's POV *
I lay down cuddled next to Lexi. I decide to hide underneath the blanket. I immediately get the urge to rip out my left eyes eyelashes. I yank hardly feeling a bunch of eyelash hairs in between my fingers, I shove it in my mouth quickly chewing on it.
* END OF POV *
Lexi: Baby, what are you doing? Did you rip out your eyelashes again? Let me see your eye.
Lauren: Babe I'm fine, stop
Lexi: Baby your left eye is all red!! Spit out whatever your chewing now!!
Lauren: Babe stop yelling at me! Leave me alone, as long as I'm not smoking cigarettes or drinking then why the heck are y'all stopping me from ripping out my eyelashes and eyebrows. You don't understand, anytime I rip out a chunk of eyelash or eyebrow hair it feels so good. If all of y'all want me to stop ripping out my eyebrows and eyelashes I will. I just need to be left alone from everyone. Forget this, I need to go clear my head.
Lexi: Baby wait! Please don't walk out that front door, where are you going? Christina! Guys! Lauren is going somewhere and won't say anything!
Christina: Lexi can you hold Tristan for me? I'm gonna go follow her on foot. Everyone else stay here and turn your phone ringers on.
Lauren: Phew! I lost them! Ugh where can I get some weed or cigarettes.

* Lauren's POV *
I dig through my pockets, I only find one cigarette in there. I stare at the fine print that reads "Marlboro" on it. I put the cigarette to my lips lighting it and taking a long drag.
* END OF POV *
Christina: Lauren, there you are! Don't worry, I'm not mad! I won't take your cigarette away. Come here Lauren! I was so worried about you. Tell me what's wrong?
Lauren: I can't stop ripping out my eyebrows and eyelashes. Lexi caught me ripping out the eyelashes on my left eye and told me to spit the hair out that I was chewing. I got so mad that I didn't know how to react. So I figured the only way to calm down was smoke a cigarette as bad as it is for my health and after staying sober all this time. I know Lexi and everyone else is gonna be mad at me. I'm gonna need another cigarette in order to talk to you Chris, I'm sorry.
Christina: I have one of your emergency packs of Newports, is that okay? After this last one your finished okay?
Lauren: Yes, mhmmm delicious. Anyway Chris I'm sorry, smoking was wrong of me but I didn't know what to do and I did the only thing I knew that would help me the most. I know I smell like a giant cigarette but can I have a hug?
Christina: Even though you stink, I love you. Come here you little stinker. Man that cigarette smells awful, when we get home I hope you know that you are freshening up.

* 5 minutes later *
Christina: We are back
Lexi: Baby! Don't kiss me, you stink like a cigarette! Go wash up now!
Lauren: Sorry babe.
Lisa: Ough, man. We are gonna need an air freshener.
Lauren: I'm back sorry y'all! Babe, I'm sorry, please don't be mad, I couldn't resist. You have to believe me.
Lexi: Baby, what you did was uncalled for, is your answer for all your problems cigarettes? That stuff destroys people and ruins peoples lives. I just can't understand why you did that. I honestly can't stop crying, I need some tissues. You really need to think about what you did.
Lauren: Babe I'm sorry, if I could undo what I did I would, you don't think I'm mad at myself? I am, I am extremely mad at myself. I didn't know what to do at that moment, please just forgive me babe. That's all I ask, I need you to be here for me.
Lexi: It seems to me you need cigarettes more than you need me, you always make me feel like I come second to you. You depend on cigarettes more than you depend on me. Why can't I be your new addiction?