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We drove in silence When the car pulled up to my house she didn’t hed "Tell "

"It’s complicated I don’t think…"

"Tell hed humorlessly "I told her it would help her relax" I couldn’t look at Nat as I told the story "We had been partying all weekend and Demetri was already in bed She was drunk"

Tears rolled down Nat’s cheeks I was a monster A complete, and total monster

"It was all over within twentyHad I been thinking, I wouldn’t have gone through with it But alcohol? Drugs? They have a way of-- I just didn’t care I knerong, but I felt so good -- it felt so good -- that I refused to acknowledge there would be any consequences" I cursed and shook asped

"I’ve never seen that look on his face before They had a huge fight, broke up, and we didn’t hear fronant By then we also found out she was hooked on everything under the sun,I paid her off to keep her mouth shut"

We sent her into rehab Our little boy, whorandma’s The next we heard from her, she was released froain and told her how sorry I was She and Deht She, um… She went to pick up Benja way on the freeway"

Nat closed her eyes Her voice shook as she spoke, "So the canceled concert tour this year? The ti and addiction"

"Addiction?"

"Not me, Nat" I bitIt ruined a part of et back The addiction? That would be my brother’s Also my fault"

"He makes his own choices It’s not your fault" Why the hell was she defending hed bitterly, "Yeah, I think it is, Nat It was all ot in trouble I never had any consequences Soot lucky, and for sos gave s now?"

"I don’t know He’s drinking heavily again, that much is clear Nat…" I lickedlike hell to hold back tears "I kill everything I touch It’s like I’m poison"

"No!" She reached forblack to as so white She reached for ain and pulledcloser Which was probably a good thing considering I would have sobbed in her lap like a baby had I had the opportunity to actually make it to her side of the car