Demon Copperhead

by Barbara Kingsolver

“Another thing,” Tommy said very quietly. “Sophie’s mother had to leave her dad, to get sober. She says as long as you’re living with an addict, you’re addicted.” I punched my fist into my hand a couple of times and walked out of there before I did worse. Why didn’t he just say it? Didn’t matter. I wasn’t leaving her.

My only job and purpose now was to keep Dori alive, and I didn’t know how to do it.