You and I are late to the party. This party’s been going on 2 years. Neither of us were invited, you can choose to leave but I chose to stay (at least for the moment).

My sister is an alcoholic. I nearly wrote has a ‘drink problem’ which is, of course, the sanitised version of the aforementioned. As we speak she’s in her rented flat, drunk, with a man she barely knows who last week punched her in the face. She doesn’t have a job, a boyfriend and has a dwindled group of friends and loved ones. She’s little money left and how she’ll continue is as yet untested. It’s a precarious position, the threat of domestic violence and the fear of alcohol induced coma or self harm.

She has been in detox or rehab 6/7 times. Nearly died once. Threatened suicide 10+ times. Been in hospital overnight twice. Been to a&e 5 times? Had an ambulance to her 4 times.

And we are not yet at rock bottom.

Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton