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"Merodie--"

"I know I have a problem, McKenzie Okay? I’ve had this conversation before with other people So many people And I’ve tried God knows I’ve tried I’ve tried so hard to get straight, butI don’t know I’m tryin’ to explain it all to this woives me this piece of chalk I’m like, ‘What’s this?’ And she says, ‘Chalk’ I can see that, okay? And the woe blackboard mounted on wheels and she tells me to write down my history She wanted to see , how s I did while drinking, the things that happened toI’m like, ‘Got a feeeks?’ And the counselor said she did, and so I start writing

"At first my letters are tall and wide and I fill a whole line with only a feords, but then the letters beco to squeeze it all in The counselor told ical order, just write it down as it cah school when I drank ot drunk for the first tih half a box of chalk, filling one side of the board and then the other, writing until my hand hurt--and that wasn’t even half of it!

"The first time I had sex I was drunk And the second time And the third And the fourth I was drunk at the ho dance and at h school I was drunk when I fell down a flight of stairs and broke my collarbone I was drunk when I drove my car into the fence that surrounded nant"

Merodie began to weep It should have been easy for ht it all on yourself" I couldn’t h the phone and wrap ht?

"McKenzie, you gotta help , Merodie"

"I hafta get outta here so I can ht for Eli I was drunk, McKenzie, drunk when that beautifulroom I coulda done so more, Merodie"

I had so many questions for her, but I was afraid to ask thee didn’t extend toshe said over the phone really could be used against her

"Please, McKenzie"

"It’ll be all right We’ll get you out"

"Please"

One question I had to ask--nothing I had learned online had even hinted at it

"Merodie? You said you were pregnant When--"

"That’s another reason you gotta get ht for everyone, I know I can I can otta be out to do it"

"Merodie?"

"I just gotta be"