Substance Abuse: A Short Story

My life was never easy. My mom was an alcoholic whom had a knack for popping pills. She was disturbed and didn’t like her lot in life. This made her very self destructive. She took it out on me and my siblings. We never felt safe at home. Every now and then she would throw a little fit and lock us in the basement. We’d be in there for hours in the dark. It always smelled dank and unhygienic. We’d be let out later that night and be sent to bed. She always smelled like alcohol and puke. She would call her newest boyfriend and yell at him through the phone. It all changed on Monday, May 28, 2012. This day started out like every other I went to school. I got in trouble I punched a kid because he called my mom white trash. It hurt because he was mostly right. I was sent home. My mom picked me up and dropped me off at home. But the door was locked. I asked her why the door was locked. She said i was sleeping in the basement tonight. She gave me the choice. Go down there now or don’t go home period. I took the former option. I went down to the basement. There was already a blanket on the floor from the night before. The basement was darker than it normally was.

He was new to the country and couldn’t speak english well. So when he said “Your ma no move.” I was confused. “What do you mean?” I said. I ran to my mom’s room to see her still body. “Mom….Mom..!” I yelled. She didn’t answer. I called the police. The first thing they said was that she was dead. The first thought in my head was what am i going to tell my brothers and sister. The police asked me if there was anywhere I can stay. I said with my brother. He was living with my grandmother at the time so he borrowed the preacher’s car, and came to pick me up. My two younger brothers stayed with their dad and my sister. I didn’t evan have a change of