ACIR HILLS
My mother told me I can manage on my own.
But tonight, I didn’t want to manage anything. Their statements lingered in my head. It played like a broken record, constantly reminding me how disappointed of a daughter I was. I wanted the thoughts to stop, so I grabbed my purse. I didn’t even change out of my clothes. I just walked out.
The convenience store was only a few minutes from Diamond Ace. I went there because it was close. I walked toward the refrigerated section and stared at the bottles. I wasn’t a heavy drinker. I could go weeks without alcohol, but I knew my tolerance was high so I picked up a bottle, then another.
The cashier looked at me. “Party?”
I forced a smile. “Something like that.” It wasn’t a party. It was an attempt to silence myself. I sat at one of the
