Object: Would you help a friend in need?

Hey Jen, it’s been a while!

I was wondering about what was happening in your life. We were so close two years ago, but life sometimes has its ways of pulling us apart. Anyway, I know I can always count on you to be a listening ear or to have a good time. Remember that time we drank tequila, went crazy, and just started calling Rick on his work phone at 2 a.m.? Those were the days!

I hope you’ve managed to feel better since you broke up with Dan. I know it’s been a while now but he was still your first love, which can be hard to go through. You cried so much when he went away, I hope I was helpful to you at that time. I know I was not perfect, but which fifteen-year-old is? I try not to be too hard on myself for that sort of thing. You know, I really tried even if I was partying a bit too much. I know you felt lonely sometimes but I’m sure you don’t hold hard feelings against me, do you?

As for me, you won’t find my news too surprising. I’m having a bit of trouble with money (but I’m not asking you for any of it this time I promise) and alcohol. I’ve been going to my meetings, but once every … two weeks? I get someone asking me to go to some party downtown. You know me, even at 57 I can’t resist the party animal inside me, so I just go and hope that this time I won’t drink. It doesn’t work, as you could guess, but I’m still hopeful one day I’ll make it.

Oh, I didn’t tell you I got a new boyfriend. He is the absolute sweetest! He makes my days so much brighter. With him, I could almost go a month without drinking, except when I’m a bit bored. I get bored too easily, though, that’s my problem. Do not get me started on boring people, they are the reason people drink! LOL That’s a joke by the way… Oh and I’m sorry I said you were boring last time I saw you, “You do you boo” is my new mantra. The fact you don’t do anything fun is totally FINE. I know a lot of people who do not like having fun, they are still great. Take Tom, for example, he is not what you could call a fun guy but he is a lawyer, which is great because I needed him a couple times. I guess going to school can be great for some people.

Anyway, going back to my boyfriend, his name is Kile. I know it sounds like he is way younger, but he is of legal age, I swear. Kile is a great guy and I know I can rely on him because we both have some similar problems to resolve. I like alcohol a bit too much, while Kile likes poker a bit too much. Well, while he really helps me with alcohol, I guess poker grew on me a bit. That is … part of why I’m broke. (Still not asking you for money, but if you really wanted to help me I can give you my bank account info, just sayin’.) Anyway, poker is great to forget alcohol because when you put your money on bets it doesn’t go on bottles!

It might not have been a great move to start playing poker while it’s been 20 years I can’t keep a job, but “my money, my rules.” That’s my other mantra. My landlord is too materialistic to understand that, though. He threw me out without any more thoughts on the matter. So rude. I had to go live with Kile, which just made our problems worse. He decided to drink some wine so he wouldn’t get too stressed about it, which didn’t help much but added to the things we have in common. You would think it would make things easier but he didn’t seem to think the same. It’s been some time he’s gone on a trip to the supermarket, I’m still hopeful he will come back.

So what happened after that is… I panicked a bit. I tried to calm myself down by lighting some candles. I don’t know how but some tequila got on one of the candles. Next thing I know, I’m outside Kile’s apartment, waiting for the firefighters to arrive. I was so tired and scared, it is a traumatizing experience, losing all my bottles to the flames. Also, Kile was going to have a huuuuuge surprise when coming back from the supermarket. I think he was gone for a month at that point, so just imagine his reaction.

I didn’t want to wait much longer outside, so I just looked around to find my car. I remembered I lost it to a bet, so I just took the first one I could see, an old Toyota. Its owner didn’t take good care of it so they didn’t deserve to keep it anyway. I started the car and remembered I had nowhere to go home to. That was a sad realization. In 57 years, I always had a place to crash in. Then I decided to just ride around town.

I stopped at a Starbucks and took some kid’s computer to look at my emails. When I say “took,” I mean I really meant to give it back. I just kind of forgot it wasn’t mine and I got back to the car with it. You would think these rich kids don’t care about their things, turns out they do care. I heard a sound coming from the computer on my car seat, then, a couple minutes later, the police were after me. That kid found my position with the computer! The audacity!

I found a quiet spot to hide for some time, but I don’t think it’s a good idea to stay here for too long. I thought of you as my third option, the other two didn’t answer, so here we are. Do you think you could … just come to get me? I don’t ask you to hide me from the police, just don’t tell them where I am. I’m sending you my position in hope you understand. It’s been 40 years but … you’re still my friend, aren’t you?

With love,

Gina