Starting over. Day 1.
Bill went to school, came home, went to bed and did nothing else for the rest of the week. He avoided his friends at school. Thursday and Friday rolled around and Bill felt scared and sick but he knew it was time to do something. Complacency was not an option.
Early in the week after talking to Athena, he immediately found a meeting to go. It met every Thursday night for two hours in a church not far from Bill's house. He wrote down the address, and ventured on. It was not as he expected. He was welcomed warmly and did not have to stand and proclaim his name and addiction. There were no leather clad guys named 'Jack' who looked like rapist present, and slightly to Billy's disappointment, Abby from ER wasn't there either. Instead, there was a small group of varied individuals in various places in their 12 steps. Billy was the youngest but not by much. He sort of hit it off with one guy, a college student named Jared. They had planned to go out for cheeseburgers sometime the next week. Jared urged Bill to make amends with everyone he could, saying that if he had his life could be a lot different.
Bill intended to do just that. Hank would have a work out tonight. First would be the local people. Foremost, Gordo.
Gordie,
Hey man. I've got to quit the band. I just can't do some of the stuff you guys have been getting into. The drinking is bad enough and I know if I'm in that environment I'll give into temptation. We can still hang out, and be friends but I don't think I can go to your house for a while. I'm sorry, dude.
-Bill
Next, as promised, he would check in with Hope. Hank could easily swing by her place and Gordie's in one trip. He ran his fingers over his Hope tattoo as he wrote out this letter.
Hope,
I haven't had a drop to drink in four days. As requested by my mother, I've kept to myself and been doing a lot of thinking. I quit my band, which is where it all started and explained to Gordon that I couldn't go to his house for a while. I think that detatching myself from that group of people will help a lot. I went to my first AA meeting tonight. Made a friend, Jared. He's been going to AA for a couple of years now. Get this, he's actually a pre-med student. This is horrible, but he's sort of shown me what I will be in a few years if I don't make amends with people. I don't want to live like that, Hope. I want to live with you. That's why I'm going to work hard and get past this. I love you.
-Billy.
While Hank was delivering those letters, Billy got on his computer to send an email to Athena.
Athena,
I went to my first AA meeting tonight. It wasn't so bad. They had cookies. I haven't had any booze since Monday and its been harder than I thought but completely worth it. I told the guys I couldn't hang out with them when they were drinking. It think its the best decision for now. Anyway, thank you for all your words of wisdom the other night, I needed to hear what you were saying before it got worse. I met a guy at the meeting who is only a few years older than I am, he said if only he had realized he needed to make amends when he was my age, his life would be so much different. I know I still have a chance. Thanks again, and I'll be calling you soon.
-Bill
Tomorrow he would send letters to Rose and Alexis and some others but this was a good first step. Damien was spending the night and he would be here soon. Damien would be suportive. Damien would help him find a way to make this up to his mother.
Early in the week after talking to Athena, he immediately found a meeting to go. It met every Thursday night for two hours in a church not far from Bill's house. He wrote down the address, and ventured on. It was not as he expected. He was welcomed warmly and did not have to stand and proclaim his name and addiction. There were no leather clad guys named 'Jack' who looked like rapist present, and slightly to Billy's disappointment, Abby from ER wasn't there either. Instead, there was a small group of varied individuals in various places in their 12 steps. Billy was the youngest but not by much. He sort of hit it off with one guy, a college student named Jared. They had planned to go out for cheeseburgers sometime the next week. Jared urged Bill to make amends with everyone he could, saying that if he had his life could be a lot different.
Bill intended to do just that. Hank would have a work out tonight. First would be the local people. Foremost, Gordo.
Gordie,
Hey man. I've got to quit the band. I just can't do some of the stuff you guys have been getting into. The drinking is bad enough and I know if I'm in that environment I'll give into temptation. We can still hang out, and be friends but I don't think I can go to your house for a while. I'm sorry, dude.
-Bill
Next, as promised, he would check in with Hope. Hank could easily swing by her place and Gordie's in one trip. He ran his fingers over his Hope tattoo as he wrote out this letter.
Hope,
I haven't had a drop to drink in four days. As requested by my mother, I've kept to myself and been doing a lot of thinking. I quit my band, which is where it all started and explained to Gordon that I couldn't go to his house for a while. I think that detatching myself from that group of people will help a lot. I went to my first AA meeting tonight. Made a friend, Jared. He's been going to AA for a couple of years now. Get this, he's actually a pre-med student. This is horrible, but he's sort of shown me what I will be in a few years if I don't make amends with people. I don't want to live like that, Hope. I want to live with you. That's why I'm going to work hard and get past this. I love you.
-Billy.
While Hank was delivering those letters, Billy got on his computer to send an email to Athena.
Athena,
I went to my first AA meeting tonight. It wasn't so bad. They had cookies. I haven't had any booze since Monday and its been harder than I thought but completely worth it. I told the guys I couldn't hang out with them when they were drinking. It think its the best decision for now. Anyway, thank you for all your words of wisdom the other night, I needed to hear what you were saying before it got worse. I met a guy at the meeting who is only a few years older than I am, he said if only he had realized he needed to make amends when he was my age, his life would be so much different. I know I still have a chance. Thanks again, and I'll be calling you soon.
-Bill
Tomorrow he would send letters to Rose and Alexis and some others but this was a good first step. Damien was spending the night and he would be here soon. Damien would be suportive. Damien would help him find a way to make this up to his mother.