Dear Elliot, (Wattys 2015)

Chapter 8: Her Friend

In order to soothe my overloaded mind, I turn to her journal. I open it to a random page.

-the alcohol was clearly an issue for him.

Woah okay, lets rewind. I flip to the page before that, which coincidently is the page after the one I left off on.

Bradley needs help. Probably more than I did. I ended my life, but he's destroying his. I first noticed on his 16th birthday. I think maybe you did too, but I'm not sure. Whatever, I'm gonna quit being vague. Bradley is an alcoholic at 16. He went to the kitchen to get us all some sodas, even though you insisted you do it because it was his birthday. He wouldn't let you, and got defensive and threatening, so you backed down

Yup I totally remember that. He scared me. As soon as he got up, you got up to go check on him and I tried to stop you, but I couldn't get to to not do it, even though I physically grabbed you. You said I was hurting you, so I let go. 

I got up to check on him, even though you tried to get me to stay. You were worried about me, I was worried about him. I went into the kitchen, and saw him pouring a beer into a soda can. I asked him what he was doing, and he kept insisting it was "None of my business" His voice kept getting louder, and I didn't want you to worry. So I just left it alone, after all, it was probably an isolated incident. I later learned that couldn't be farther from the truth. No matter how much I tried to deny it, 

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the alcohol was clearly an issue for him, and I didn't know how to deal with it. You probably noticed how he became erratic, impulsive, and even violent at times. Im worried that my death will push him further, can you please keep an eye on him? This whole thing was basically to try and get you to babysit him and keep him from killing himself.

I decide to pick up the phone. Who do I call? Bradley? Jackson? The cops? I end up calling Mrs. Livian. 

"Hi Elliot! Where are you?" 

"Im still at my place, do you think Bradley could stay over there too? I haven't asked him yet, but I think he needs to,"

"Of course! Let me know what he says when you ask him. The more the merrier!"

"Thank you so much!" She hangs up. Next I call Bradley, 

"Hello?" He answers, I think I woke him up..

"Hey, dude. Its Elliot. Can you be at Risa's old place in about 5 or 10 minutes?"

"Sure I can, whats going on?"

"We need to talk," I say, trying not to cry.

"Everything ok?" He says this like I just told him his girlfriend was in labor.

"It will be, just be there ok?"

"You bet!" I hear a whoosh. Probably his sheets. I did wake him up. I grab the beach bag and her journal and make my way over to Risa's house.I'm greeted by an overly-cheery Mrs. Livian and Mr. Livian, who looks about as bad as I do. Five minutes later Bradley arrives, and my life goes a little further down the toilet