*** Dad digs out the empty bottle of mouthwash from the trash can and holds it over his mouth, begging for another drop to somehow generate onto his tongue, so desperate he’s crying, shaking, crumbling apart before our eyes. “Please god please god please please please god just one more sip one more sip I swear to Christ all I need is one more sip oh god god oh god please I’ll do anything anything you want just one more sip please god please.” Nobody answers his prayers. He throws the bottle against the wall and pounds his fists against the sides of his head. “Don’t look at me like that,” he
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