On the Altar

Chapter 7 (Filler)

POV-Crystal, age 16

I feel so, so damned guilty.

I feel guilty for ever having had my first drink.

I feel guilty for putting both my families and all other people who love me through hell when I was found on the sidewalk.

I feel guilty for putting my body and mind through hell.

I love Misty, and I know she will support me no matter what decision I make.

That is to say, abortion, adoption, or raise it.

I know her family will support me, too.

But, I can't be so confident about my own blood's decision.

When they found out I drank alcohol, I was fifteen. They left me in the holding cell when Marty called them to say he'd found me.

When I called the Jenkins-Watson household, though, they arrived, all of them, with Misty and Kate in tow, Jen closely behind them, all mad at Marty for not calling them first. I felt so safe and loved that day, that I promised I would stop drinking because it hurt them to find me so weak and vulnerable, a shell of myself, they said.

Misty's family fought, yes fought with my parents because they left me there. They convinced my parents to send me to California for rehab, and being sober feels much better than getting drunk and saying a mental f**k off to Mom's crazy-a*s rules. The numbness that alcohol bought me was amazing, and felt a lot better than the incompetence Mom made me feel. Although, throwing up in the school's toilets wasn't such a prize, it felt amazing to do something by choice for a change.

I just wish I don't hurt my other family the same way I did a year ago.

Because, without them, I'd probably be dead due to alcohol poisoning and parental neglect.