The Write Stuff

Chapter 15 The Whiskey Ain't Workin'

"Mornin' sunshine!" Denny yells. "I brought you my hangover cure!"

I groan and roll over. My head is throbbing and my guts are rolling. I drank way too much last night and now I'm paying for it. "Can you just...not?"

Denny laughs, walking into my room. "You'll find the hangovers hurt more than they used to!"

"I got it. Stop yelling." I grumble into my pillow.

I feel the bottom of my bed sag as Denny sits down. "You wanna talk, kiddo?"

"About?" I ask, rolling over. I can feel my stomach churn and flip while the bile rises into my throat.

Denny, possibly seeing me struggle to keep everything down, softly chuckles. "I think we should have a heart-to-heart, Kerrigan. I don't like seeing you like this. Although...it is great for writing those sad country songs."

I know Denny is trying to cheer me up, but it's not working. I feel embarrassed and sad that I let Daniel get to me. I caught feelings when I knew that it couldn't be something real.

"I'm so confused right now." I whisper.

Denny pats my leg. "I know, kiddo."

My chin quivers and my eyes fill with tears, but no matter how much I try to stop, it just keeps coming. I bury my face back into my pillow just as the sobs start.

I feel another pat from Denny. This time on my back. "I wish I could take it all away, kiddo. But I only have stuff for the hangover...the rest will happen with time."

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I'm hot and I can't breathe. I open my eyes and I'm in a room. I can see myself in the mirror, but it's not me. At least...it can't be. I don't wear my hair like that and there is far more makeup than I need. Not even for the stage.

"Five more minutes!" A women's voice shouts from behind me. I turn around to see who it is, but it's Daniel standing where the voice had come from.

"Hey, girl" he says looking me up and down."You look great right now. I like this."

I shake my head. "I feel ridiculous. This dress is so tight and barely covers anything. All this shit on my face feels like it's going to melt off."

Daniel smiles at me like he didn't hear anything I had just said. "Kerrigan, this is entertainment. This is what people want to see. Now let's get you on stage."

"With you, right?" I ask as Daniel takes my hand.

"Nope. It's all you, Kerrigan." He answers. Now he's practically pulling me through a labyrinth of dark halls.

"Wait!" I yell, pulling my hand back. "I'm not ready! I'm missing something. I need to do something first."

Daniel rolls his eyes. "Don't worry about your kids. They're fine. You don't need them when all those people are out there to see YOU, Kerrigan."

"M-my kids?!" I ask, backing away from Daniel.

Daniel tip his cowboy hat back to rub his forehead. He looks frustrated and nervous. "Yes, Kerrigan. YOUR kids. They're with their father. Now, you need to go!"

I'm about to follow Daniel, when I notice someone standing at the end of  another hallway and I immediately recognize him. "Caleb?!"