Problems Anonymous(complete)

Chapter 3

I didn't call him.And he didn't call me.

Maybe Austin was a good boy.Or maybe he just didn't give a rat's ass about the buddy system. I'll be honest, I didn't really have any intentions of calling him either.Not like I needed to.I wasn't the one with a drinking problem.

We still acknowledged each other at meetings, though. A nod, a "hey how's it going". It wasn't until a month later that I actually needed his help.

I woke up at midnight.No, that wasn't right, my body woke me up. I had a strong faint feeling, but at the same time, my heart was racing at speeds I'd never felt before.I knew what this was.I either had high or low blood sugars, and my body was going into a state of shock.

I reached for my meter that I kept on my nightstand. My fingertips felt the emergency pouch, but it dropped to the floor.

I muttered curse words, and tried to get out of bed, but my body wouldn't move. I couldn't move.Luckily, my phone was still charging on the bed beside my leg.I grabbed it, and I knew I had to dial fast before the next symptom occured-blurry vision.I punched in 911, but I didn't press the call button.I stared at the emergency number on my screen.

No, I'm fine.This isn't that important.I just need a little help.They could be helping someone with bigger problems.

There I go again.

I scrolled through my contacts until I came to his name, and pushed call.

"Hello?", a raspy voice answered.

I stood quiet.Almost paralyzed to ask for help.I hated depending on others, because at the end of the day, my problems came down to me.But then, a pang hit my stomach, and I got over it.

"Austin? It's Maisy from AA.C-can you-I need your help.Now."

I gave him my address.

"There's a spare key above the door frame.P-Please hurry", I squeaked, and hung up before he had any chance to rebuttal.

I squeezed my eyes shut and waited, hoping he'd show.That this whole 'buddy system' would work out.

"It's me", I heard the front door open a few minutes later.

"Where are you?"

He made his way to my room before I could even respond.He switched on the lights.

"What's going on Maisy? Jesus, why are you so pale?", he got down on his knees to get beside my bed.

"My meter", I gestured toward the fallen machine and I was thankful he understood. He grabbed it and took one of my fingers.After poking me, and inserting the test strip in, he waited to see the results flash on the screen.His face dropped when they did.He muttered a curse word under his breath.

"What?!", I asked reaching for the meter.

He got up to go to the kitchen. He returned in a moment, a can of Pepsi in his hand. He opened it, the fizzing sound breaking the silence.

"Drink some", he directed, placing the container in my hand.I did as told. He looked down at the screen, as I gulped down half the soda.

"I have to wait 15 minutes before I check you again.", he spoke in a hush,"your glucose level was too low."

This was all routine to me, but how the hell did he know about all this?I guess I gave him a funny look, or he read my mind.He leaned against the wall and shrugged.

"I hear you talk about it sometimes at AA.I don't know, when we started this whole buddy thing, I knew you were too much of a prude to ever drink your guts out to the point where you needed me.Or even drink at all, for that matter. But I always knew there'd be a chance you'd need me in this situation. So I read up."