I am starting on a new series titled, Learning To Cope. I am sharing a short excerpt from a WIP I am working on for a short story collection for 2020 which deals with addiction and abuse affecting people today. I hope you like it.

Chapter 1: Meet Alice

Alice Age 30

Alice stood in the middle of the hallway of her small apartment. She took a deep breath while gazing into the mirror.

You could see that what happened in the last year had taken its toll on Alice. Her eyes puffy from the night spent crying,  her hair frazzled and dry from the days spent not using conditioner. Even Alice did not recognize herself.

Who gives a crap about conditioner?  She thought. 

In an instance, Alice resorted to her favorite hobby of choice, food.  As time went on it was the only thing that comforted her. Not to mention the trips to the local bar every weekend so she could bury her pain in a drunken haze. The drink of choice was a dirty martini.

On a good note, all was not bad for Alice. She spent most of her time as the manager of the local grocery store of the small town of Duncan which was just outside of Arlington Texas.

As she got into the shower to get dressed for another long day at work,   thoughts began taken over her once again. Alice drifted back to how her life had fallen apart in the last year and what led her to Duncan.

Shit Alice! She scolded herself. Don’t think of him! You don’t need him!  

As she stepped out of the shower, the flashbacks started taking over her. Alice remembered how it was three years earlier, and she was living what she thought would be her dream life.

Sebastian was his name, and from the moment Alice met him, it was obvious from the start, their love was meant to be. She had met him in college at The University of Texas at Austin. It was so clear from the beginning they were smitten with one another. Before long they were dating.

Tears began overflowing Alice. Damn, I am going to be late for work.
I don’t have time for this! He made his choice. 

For now, Alice focused on the grueling day and week ahead.