A sad state

My name is Addison and my friend is an alcoholic. A raging one.

His latest excuse is this week's breakup with his girlfriend. She's also an alcoholic and they were imploding together. She had no job nor was motivated to get one. With the unemployment checks no longer coming, she was content sitting in the bar with him all afternoon and evening. Drinking. Together. Until neither could walk. He got tired of paying for it all so he broke up with her.

He's in no better shape. Last night I met him for a drink. He needed a friend. He told me about the final straw with his girlfriend and shared his dream to have kids someday. He was happy and communicative at that point. He bragged about the last few days he had gone without drinking and about getting up that morning and going for a run.

He also expressed how he needs friends to help him fight the loneliness.

Then the switch flipped. He had at least one shot of Crown after we talked and almost to the minute about 15 minutes later he changed. He spoke in a threatening way to me about how he knew what I was up to and everyone was trying to take advantage of me. You could see the change in his face.

He said he was going home and would come back to pay his tab later, but then he refused to pay it because he said he already had. Finally he pulled out his driver's licence to pay with. He asked me to help him walk home and sit with him while he falls asleep. Then he fell backwards on his ass off a tall bar stool and elbowed me in the chest on the way down. The guy eating his dinner down the bar popped up to pull him off the floor. He asked him if he was okay but shook his head the whole time.

Once my friend was upright for a moment, he turned around and yelled at the guy.

For the second time over the weekend, I yelled at him. "Shut up. Now is the time to zip your mouth. Go home and don't say another word."

I don't yell at people.

After he left I sat and ate my dinner while the people at the bar talked in amazement about what happened. I realized I was used to this behavior from him. I don't know what responsible single girl would want a relationship with him. Any girl who would have his babies is crazier than he is.

I know my friend needs serious rehab. His family should take care of it if they can, but I'm afraid they're in a similar situation. That's a sad state.

Love to the single girls,
Addison