A few months later…
‘Are you sure about cooking? I can do it, you know.’
‘It’s fine. You’re tired. Besides, I honestly enjoy it.’
‘Well, if you’re sure… I don’t want to feel like I’m taking advantage of you.’
‘You’re not.’
‘Better that she’s cooking because she wants to rather than because it’s her duty, or some shit.’
‘I know. I didn’t want to come across like Tate, having you do the domestic stuff because you’re girls.’
‘If I thought you were like Tate, none of us would be here. Not even you’d be here; you’d probably be buried in the back garden.’
‘Fair enough, I guess... Anyway. I must admit, Ari, I didn’t expect you to agree to counselling too.’
‘Well… Edward’s the expert, isn’t he? I’m not happy, but I should at least try it.’
‘Yeah. And we’ve been through a lot, haven’t we? It’ll be good for us.’
‘It’ll be good for him too, right?’
‘Should be… though I wonder how honest he was with the doctor.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘The drinking. I know we’ve been avoiding talking about this, but… I think he has a problem.’
‘You mean it’s not normal to start drinking at 8AM?’
‘Don’t be flippant, Aria. It’s a big deal.’
‘I know. But it’s hard to know what to say. I’d feel horrible criticising him after everything he’s suffered.’
‘That’s the problem, isn’t it? We don’t want to confront it because we’d feel bad. But it’s because he’s suffered that he’s doing it in the first place.’
‘I have to ask… where did he get the money to drink, on the streets?’
‘Begging, maybe doing odd jobs… Whatever he did, it would’ve gone back on alcohol. That’s why people are reluctant to give money to the homeless.’
‘But it’s not his fault he has an addiction!’
‘No, it’s not. It’s easy for us to judge, but we’re not the ones living rough. Sometimes people just do what they can to get through the days. Then once they’re hooked, it’s difficult to break out of it. People can die from alcohol withdrawal, you know.’
‘Oh shit, really?’
‘Yeah. There’s a detox process you can go through to make it easier on you. Because if you just stop… it’s horrible, apparently. It’s something he should’ve spoken to the doctor about.’
‘I guess if he didn’t… he might not be ready to stop.’
‘Mm… We’ll have to talk to him. Bad as I feel allowing it, though, I’m not just going to cut off the supply. That’d be cruel.’
‘So… you’re out.’
‘Holy shit! Edward?!’
‘Yes, it’s me. Well observed. What the hell were you thinking?!’
‘Shit… yeah. I, uh, wasn’t.’
‘You can say that again! Burglary? Punching a police officer? Not just any police officer, my nephew?’
‘Fuck, man… I didn’t realise, at the time. I only figured out who he was when I got to court. I’m really sorry.’
‘It wouldn’t have been any better if it had been some other officer, you know. But still. I tell you all about my family and then you go and assault one of them. What’s wrong with you?’
‘Very bad judgement, Edward. I admit it. I regret it.’
‘I shouldn’t even be talking to you. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still grateful for everything you did for me, but what you did is inexcusable.’
‘Believe me, I get it… Hey, why didn’t you stay in my place? You left straight away. I told my family to find you and tell you to stay. You could’ve carried on livin’ there. I wouldn’t have sent you back onto the streets just ‘cos of my fuckup.’
‘I wasn’t going to live in your apartment without you, Stanley. I wouldn’t have been comfortable.’
‘Shame… I really wanted you to. Would’ve been the least I could do. You goin’ back on the streets is somethin’ else I regret about the whole stupid situation.’
‘I’m not bothered about that part. I’m more bothered about you fucking up your life and hurting my family.’
‘Well… At least I got a chance to talk to Ellis. I know he’s probably still pissed at me, but… maybe it made a difference.’
‘…Yes, I think he was a lot happier with it than he expected to be. He’s a nice person, Stanley.’
‘Yeah, he is. Wait… Are you back in contact with him?’
‘Yes. I live with him now. Tate moved out, so I moved in with Ellis and his sisters. They were kind enough to take me in.’
‘That’s great, man… I’m really glad you’re off the streets now.’
‘That’s why I said he’s nice. All of them. They’re very kind people. They didn't have to let me live with them, especially with all of my problems, but they did.’
‘'Course they would. They love you. Does they know 'bout us yet?’
‘No. I haven't had the chance to tell them. I’m not sure how to break the news that I’m friends with the man who assaulted Ellis.’
‘Fair.’
‘I’ll talk to him properly tomorrow. I just wanted to talk to you first.’
‘Right. Thanks for comin’ over, anyway. I was worried about you.’
‘Well, despite everything, I was looking forward to telling you the good news. About being off the streets for good, I mean.’
‘So… is there any way I can make it up to you? You got a job yet?’
‘Not yet, no.’
‘Well, I could use someone to help me out here, if you’re interested. It’s the least I can do.’
‘Oh… Thank you, that’s very generous. But I’m still not fit to return to work, yet. I’m… a work in progress.’
‘Say no more, man. I get it.’
‘Where are you living now, anyway?’
‘I gave up on the old place after you left. No point payin’ for somewhere I ain’t livin’. So now I’m in shared accommodation. Rentin’ a room not far from here. I don’t mind, it’s cheap.’
‘Ahh, I see. When exactly did you get out?’
‘Was a few weeks ago. My parents picked me up from the prison. They wanted me to stay in Miniopolis for a while but I wanted to come back to Sunset Valley as soon as possible. My business is here, my life is here.’
‘Of course. It makes sense.’
‘…We okay now, then? It’s fine if you’re not.’
‘I am, yes. I don’t know how Ellis will feel about me remaining friends with you. You're far from his favourite person, but he forgives you, and so do I. So I’ll wait and see what he says.’
‘Are you sure about cooking? I can do it, you know.’
‘It’s fine. You’re tired. Besides, I honestly enjoy it.’
‘Well, if you’re sure… I don’t want to feel like I’m taking advantage of you.’
‘You’re not.’
‘Better that she’s cooking because she wants to rather than because it’s her duty, or some shit.’
‘I know. I didn’t want to come across like Tate, having you do the domestic stuff because you’re girls.’
‘If I thought you were like Tate, none of us would be here. Not even you’d be here; you’d probably be buried in the back garden.’
‘Fair enough, I guess... Anyway. I must admit, Ari, I didn’t expect you to agree to counselling too.’
‘Well… Edward’s the expert, isn’t he? I’m not happy, but I should at least try it.’
‘Yeah. And we’ve been through a lot, haven’t we? It’ll be good for us.’
‘It’ll be good for him too, right?’
‘Should be… though I wonder how honest he was with the doctor.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘The drinking. I know we’ve been avoiding talking about this, but… I think he has a problem.’
‘You mean it’s not normal to start drinking at 8AM?’
‘Don’t be flippant, Aria. It’s a big deal.’
‘I know. But it’s hard to know what to say. I’d feel horrible criticising him after everything he’s suffered.’
‘That’s the problem, isn’t it? We don’t want to confront it because we’d feel bad. But it’s because he’s suffered that he’s doing it in the first place.’
‘I have to ask… where did he get the money to drink, on the streets?’
‘Begging, maybe doing odd jobs… Whatever he did, it would’ve gone back on alcohol. That’s why people are reluctant to give money to the homeless.’
‘But it’s not his fault he has an addiction!’
‘No, it’s not. It’s easy for us to judge, but we’re not the ones living rough. Sometimes people just do what they can to get through the days. Then once they’re hooked, it’s difficult to break out of it. People can die from alcohol withdrawal, you know.’
‘Oh shit, really?’
‘Yeah. There’s a detox process you can go through to make it easier on you. Because if you just stop… it’s horrible, apparently. It’s something he should’ve spoken to the doctor about.’
‘I guess if he didn’t… he might not be ready to stop.’
‘Mm… We’ll have to talk to him. Bad as I feel allowing it, though, I’m not just going to cut off the supply. That’d be cruel.’
‘So… you’re out.’
‘Holy shit! Edward?!’
‘Yes, it’s me. Well observed. What the hell were you thinking?!’
‘Shit… yeah. I, uh, wasn’t.’
‘You can say that again! Burglary? Punching a police officer? Not just any police officer, my nephew?’
‘Fuck, man… I didn’t realise, at the time. I only figured out who he was when I got to court. I’m really sorry.’
‘It wouldn’t have been any better if it had been some other officer, you know. But still. I tell you all about my family and then you go and assault one of them. What’s wrong with you?’
‘Very bad judgement, Edward. I admit it. I regret it.’
‘I shouldn’t even be talking to you. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still grateful for everything you did for me, but what you did is inexcusable.’
‘Believe me, I get it… Hey, why didn’t you stay in my place? You left straight away. I told my family to find you and tell you to stay. You could’ve carried on livin’ there. I wouldn’t have sent you back onto the streets just ‘cos of my fuckup.’
‘I wasn’t going to live in your apartment without you, Stanley. I wouldn’t have been comfortable.’
‘Shame… I really wanted you to. Would’ve been the least I could do. You goin’ back on the streets is somethin’ else I regret about the whole stupid situation.’
‘I’m not bothered about that part. I’m more bothered about you fucking up your life and hurting my family.’
‘Well… At least I got a chance to talk to Ellis. I know he’s probably still pissed at me, but… maybe it made a difference.’
‘…Yes, I think he was a lot happier with it than he expected to be. He’s a nice person, Stanley.’
‘Yeah, he is. Wait… Are you back in contact with him?’
‘Yes. I live with him now. Tate moved out, so I moved in with Ellis and his sisters. They were kind enough to take me in.’
‘That’s great, man… I’m really glad you’re off the streets now.’
‘That’s why I said he’s nice. All of them. They’re very kind people. They didn't have to let me live with them, especially with all of my problems, but they did.’
‘'Course they would. They love you. Does they know 'bout us yet?’
‘No. I haven't had the chance to tell them. I’m not sure how to break the news that I’m friends with the man who assaulted Ellis.’
‘Fair.’
‘I’ll talk to him properly tomorrow. I just wanted to talk to you first.’
‘Right. Thanks for comin’ over, anyway. I was worried about you.’
‘Well, despite everything, I was looking forward to telling you the good news. About being off the streets for good, I mean.’
‘So… is there any way I can make it up to you? You got a job yet?’
‘Not yet, no.’
‘Well, I could use someone to help me out here, if you’re interested. It’s the least I can do.’
‘Oh… Thank you, that’s very generous. But I’m still not fit to return to work, yet. I’m… a work in progress.’
‘Say no more, man. I get it.’
‘Where are you living now, anyway?’
‘I gave up on the old place after you left. No point payin’ for somewhere I ain’t livin’. So now I’m in shared accommodation. Rentin’ a room not far from here. I don’t mind, it’s cheap.’
‘Ahh, I see. When exactly did you get out?’
‘Was a few weeks ago. My parents picked me up from the prison. They wanted me to stay in Miniopolis for a while but I wanted to come back to Sunset Valley as soon as possible. My business is here, my life is here.’
‘Of course. It makes sense.’
‘…We okay now, then? It’s fine if you’re not.’
‘I am, yes. I don’t know how Ellis will feel about me remaining friends with you. You're far from his favourite person, but he forgives you, and so do I. So I’ll wait and see what he says.’
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