Free Starting Over (Treading Water Trilogy) by Marie Force

Brandon went to talk to Alan. They shook hands.

    “You did great, Brandon.”

    “I didn’t say much.”

    “You said enough. How do you feel?”

    “Relieved. I’d been kind of dreading that.”

    “It’s always a big deal to say the words, ‘I’m an alcoholic,’ for the first time in a room full of people you hardly know.”

    “I do know them. Maybe not personally, in some cases, but I understand them better than most people would. After all, I’m one of them, right?”

    Alan nodded with satisfaction. “I’m proud of you, Brandon. You’ve come so far from the day we first met, and it seems like you really get it now.”

    “That means a lot coming from you.”

    “How’re you doing with the spiritual issues we discussed?”

    “I’ve been doing a lot of reading and thinking about it.”

    “That’s a good start. Remember, AA only encourages you to relate to a higher power as you define it.” Alan reached for his wallet and withdrew his card. “Let’s try this again, shall we?”

    Brandon laughed as he accepted the card. “I won’t throw it away this time.”

    “Call me—any time.”

    “I will.” Brandon shook Alan’s hand. “Thank you for everything.”

    “I’ll pray for you.”

    “Thanks, Alan.”

     
    “So what do you think, Brandon?” Sondra asked at their final session. Brandon’s father would be arriving soon to drive him home. “Ready to go back out and face the world?”

    “I hope so. I feel good. Better than I have in a long time.”

    “How’s the running going?”

    “I’m up to five miles, and I’ve been lifting weights. I don’t feel like I’m going to die from the effort anymore.”

    “You look much better than you did the first time we met.”

    “Yeah, well, my brother’s fist hasn’t been near my face in a month, so I should look better.”

    Sondra smiled. “How about inside? You know what you have to do?”

    Brandon nodded. “Ninety meetings in ninety days, get a sponsor, read the Big Book , make my amends to the people I’ve hurt, and stay sober—not necessarily in that order.”

    “Yes, staying sober needs to be first on your list.”

    “I just worry about…”

    “What?”

    “Events where everyone’s drinking—family dinners, weddings, parties… My family is forever celebrating something, and everyone drinks—not like I did—but alcohol is part of every gathering.”

    “It’s very important that you not get too far ahead of yourself. Take each day and each event as they come. The only thing any of us really has is right now. Stay sober today. Worry about tomorrow tomorrow .”

    “I’ll do my best.”

    “All you can do is keep your own side of the street clean. You’ll hear that expression often in AA.”

    Brandon smiled. “I like it.”

    “I see clients in town on Wednesday and Friday afternoons if you’d like to continue your therapy. Call my service to make an appointment.” She stood up and went to her desk. When she came back, she held a leather-bound book and a business card, which she handed to him. “My cell number’s on there, too. Feel free to use it. I’m just a phone call away if you ever need me.”

    The lump in his throat surprised Brandon. The support he’d received here had been overwhelming, and he had no doubt they’d saved his life by teaching him how to live. The rest would be up to him.

    “Before I let you go, I have a little tradition with all my patients,” Sondra said. “There’s always one thing that worries me more than anything else when it comes to my patients’ future sobriety. My worries differ, and I give each of you the opportunity to decide whether or not you want to hear it.”

    “What do most people do?”

    “Most choose to hear it, and they tend to be the ones who don’t end up back here again.”

    “Okay, then, bring it on. I’m ready.”

    “With you, Brandon, my biggest worry is your resentment. You absolutely must work through your issues with Aidan