This is a spin-off of several works I have completed or are currently underway.
This series of short stories will follow a few of my characters through the rehabilitation process until they have their moment of clarity.
Some issues dealt with in thi...
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Per usual after a family therapy session, Parker dropped me off at Emily and Emmett's for the night.
No sweat off my back. They gave me more privacy then I could ever dream of getting with Parker.
Sometimes Parker would stay for dinner, but today was one of the days where he left just as swiftly as he'd come, barely uttering a goodbye before he was gone.
"A bad one today?" Emily asked me.
"I'm going to bed."
She moved to block my path. "Not so fast."
I raised an eyebrow at her. "You really think this will work?"
"It will for long enough. You're coming with me."
"Actually I'm not. I'm going to bed."
A smile stretched across Emily's face. "Give me a chance."
"Fuck off."
She produced a pamphlet out of her back pocket, handing it to me.
My eyes scanned the glossy paper. "A craft fair?" I glanced up at her. "You think that a craft fair in some retirement community is going to entice me?"
"I sure was hoping so."
I shoved the pamphlet back at her. "Yeah, no thanks."
Emily just shrugged. "I mean, you could stay here and sleep."
"Great."
"Or-" she continued, as though I hadn't spoken, "-you can get out and get some fresh air."
What did I have to do to get her to leave me alone? "Pass."
"I'll even buy you an ice cream?"
I should feel angry by now, at least a bit annoyed. That would be the normal human reaction in this instance.
But I just felt empty.
I always felt empty.
Emily's voice dropped to a soft whisper. "It'll be good to get some fresh air, okay? I know how overwhelming therapy can be."
Of course she did.
My brother was apparently addicted to trying to save lost causes.
"What do I get out of this?" I asked, tilting my head to the side.
"So now I have to bribe you to come with me?"
She laughed when I didn't answer. "I'll leave you alone for the rest of the night."
"Week," I countered. "And let me close the bedroom door."
"Three days," she countered back. "And absolutely not. But I will let you have control of the TV."
Coming at me with a Netflix bargain, she knew me too well.
"Fine," I agreed. "Where is this stupid thing anyways?"
