Mark Muller's P.O.V.
It wasn't my first AA meeting, but in each meeting, I got as nervous as the first one. People think that some of us who come to this meetings, we don't care about getting better. They think we do it to fool the system and to be out there again, to get hurt again or to get lost again.
It wasn't my case.
I was conscious that I was wrong and that I needed help to get better.
In the past months, I've been sponsoring kids who had been having the same problem than me. The most predominant was this girl who was new.
Her hair was always messy, like she never found time to brush it. She always had bags under her eyes, like she hadn't sleep a lot during the day or night. She was pale and really thin, like food and water was something she forget to eat. Her clothes always clanged her shoulders and she had the tick of pulling her clothes up, like she wanted to hide herself.
"OK, guys... Let's start" our leader, Jackson decided to start the meeting "We'll go around the circle saying our names and our progress or our downs. We're not here to judge" he warned, looking at the people sitting there "We're here to listen and support. Now, who wants to start?"
"I'll start" I suggested. Jackson nodded at me and sat down, while I got up "Hi, my name is Mark-"
"Hi, Mark" everyone chorused the greeting, except for this girl, who was looking down at her lap.
"Today, it'll be my fourth month being sober" Everyone clapped at me. I felt really proud about myself "I know I'm not an sponsor, but if anyone needs someone to help you or to listen, I'm here" I admitted. I was willing to help everyone.
"Thank you, Mark and congratulations" Jackson congratulated me, while I sat back again "How about you, sweetie?" he turned to the girl who was sitting next to me, the new one. She looked up and her face turned to panic and shook it. She wasn't scared, she was down terrified.
"Hey..." I called her, softly and offered her my hand "It's OK... It'll be OK" I promised to her, trying to sooth her. She looked at me and, hesitantly, grabbed my hand and held it tight.
"My- my name is S-Selene a-and it's my fi-first meeting here..." she stuttered, shyly. Everyone was about to greet her, but I shook my head. She needed to feel comfortable "I- I have a pro-problem w-with alcohol..." After she said that, she shut herself, holding my hand even tighter. I didn't mind, though.
"Thank you for sharing, Selene" Jackson thanked her "You'll share when you feel comfortable" Selene nodded and pulled me closer to her. I moved my chair in silence, while Jackson moved to the next member.
~oOo~
Through the whole meeting, Selene never dropped my hand. Like if I was her safe place.
"Selene..." I called her, softly, once the meeting is over "Selene..." I tried again.
"Huh?" she looked my way, kind of sleepy. I smiled at her.
"The meeting is over. We have to go" I explained to her. She nodded and got up from her chair. I did the same and I guided her to the front door "Do you have someone to take you home?" She shook her head, looking down "You want a ride?" I offered her. She looked up, horrified.
"No! I mean..." she stuttered "No, thank you... I'd be OK..."
"Please, Sel" I nicknamed her, smiling. I saw her blushing at my action "It's raining and, with your abstinence, I'm sure you'd catch a cold and I don't want you sick" I admitted to her. I don't know why I said that, but not only felt right, but it felt good.
"T-thanks" she told me, still blushing. I gestured her to wait under the roof and I rushed to get my car (actually, it's not mine, it's my sisters, but she let me borrow it), so she could climbed inside. She gave me the directions to her house and kept quiet the whole ride. When we reached her house, I stopped.
"Well, we're here" I announced to her. She looked through my window and sighed.
"T-thanks, Mark" she surprised me by remembering my name "I'd invite you inside, but-"
"We don't know much, I know" I shrugged, trying not to make it a big deal. Suddenly, loud noises came from inside the house and a man came out.
His cheeks were red, like he has been drinking. His hair was also messy and he was thin. He was wearing a shirt and some jeans.
"Selene. Get inside, you're gonna get a cold!" the man yelled at her. Selene nodded and turned to me and opened her mouth to say something, but I beat her to it.
"Want me to come pick you up for the meetings? I don't live that far from here..." I pointed down the road, where my house was.
"Th-that would be great, t-thanks" she smiled at me. I noticed she stopped stuttering a lot while talking to me. She opened the door and climbed down my car. Before getting inside the house, she kissed the man's cheek and waved at me. Then, the man walked down to talk to me.
"Anything I can help you with, sir?" I kind of mocked him. I was having a bad vibe from this guy.
"Actually, you can" he said, surprising me "Help Selene with this... We support her 100 percent, but sometimes... Well, things happen that we can't control it..." he was being criptic, like all his life had a hidden meaning.
"Don't worry, sir. If I got out of the addiction, I'm sure Selene is gonna get out just fine" I promised, not aware what that was gonna mean to me.
That's how I met Selene's Dad...
