A Season of Mist

Well, went over to get my stuff. And Kate was out, all right. Out like a light, half on the bed, half on the floor. I'm not sure how much of the bottle of absinthe - Logan Fils brand, ironically enough - went down her throat, but there was a fair amount on the floor and in her hair.

I picked her up, and found what'd sent her off on this. Her mother's annual card had arrived. Great. I always whip those suckers right in the trash, after I made the mistake of opening the first one. But she sends 'em, year after year.

Kate's mom is a real piece of work. I've met very few people who I wouldn't trade mine for. This nutcase? Specializes in verbal abuse. When I met her, she gave me a dirty look and said "Irish, hunh? Maybe you can beat some sense into her." Nice. And mind you, that was when she liked me. She really thought Kate was a failure for going to school instead of getting a man with a "good job," like one in construction or something. Now, of course, I'm the lowest form of life imaginable, right after her own daughter.

I took a look, and sure enough, it was the same old crap. I swear, the effort that vicious old bat puts into these could save a rainforest or something. Why in the hell would Kate open it? Has she been opening the ones she gets every year?

I shoved the damn thing in my pocket to get rid of it later, and dealt with Kate instead. I cleaned her up and got her back in the bed while she mumbled and groaned. If I’ve learned nothing else in this life, I know how to handle a drunk.

By the time I had my things, and everything was taken care of, she was vaguely aware that I was there. So I sat next to her, waiting for her to go to sleep, giving her the same old reassurances about being there for her, no matter what, and that she’s never done anything wrong. I tell her the stuff she’s heard before, because it's what she needs to hear, and I don’t bring up the nightmares - I never do - because they always start with her and the things I should have said but didn’t. And what good would that do us now?

I left her sleeping, if not peacefully, at least quietly.