I Want You

“Mommy, you’re drinking so much,” Ariel warned, her eyes staring at the empty bottles as they sat astride each other at the dining table. While she was having a glass of juice, her Mommy was having bottles of beer.

“Mommy, drinking is bad.”

“It’s just tea.”

Ariel gasped. “Mommy must think I’m two years old. I know what that is.”

Bree raised her eyes to stare at her daughter in disbelief. “You don’t. How would you know? It's not like you've tasted it before.”

“I’ve seen so many people in the streets drinking this. It is beer and alcoholic. But what if… what if.” Her eyes widened. “What if Mommy becomes one of those men on the streets who act like they’re walking on ice? That would be so bad.

“Don’t say things like that, Ari. It’s just drinking. Besides, I’m home. Nothing like that is going to happen.” Saying that she gulped the glass of beer and let out a tiny gasp. Usually, she wouldn’t drink in front of the child but she didn’t even know how it started. From a bottle to two an