FOURTEEN: Forgetting Era's birthday.

“Kim!” The house is so quiet. I stumble to her empty room like every corner of this house is dark and lonely.

“Kim!” I go back downstairs and struggling to compose myself on the stairs. I keoe falling on on effect and then finally I reach the living room. There is the same darkness I follow. I had ten or perhaps fifteen beers tonight. It's not that much. I'm still pissed at the way Era is acting earlier. She can't blame me if I have to walk away.

She's right. She didn't know me anymore. I already told her that. I kept thinking about her statement. Until I come to realize that telling me that is just the simplest other way she can do to tell me she doesn't like me anymore. She doesn't like my drinking my happiness my voice, my presence. She hates me now and I understand that she feels that way. You really can't like someone the same way you did.

“Where have you been?” She asks.

“Where's mom?” I fall to the single couch behind me.

Kim give me a sturdy look in the eyes. “She's out o