The Tragedy of Felix and Jake

by J. Daniels

I was twenty-eight when I found out that I’ll never beat it. My name is Jake Tully, and I’m an addict.

My mom used to sing it to me. She died when I was seven.” “Shit. I’m sorry.” “It’s okay. You didn’t give her cancer.”

“Can you say it? Please?” Can I say it? Yes. I so very easily can. “He touched you. Nobody touches you.”

“The only reason I haven’t fucked you yet is because you’re my sponsor.”

Today, I am eight hundred and twenty-seven days sober. My name is Jake Tully and I’m an addict. And I’ll always be an addict. I’ll never beat this. But I’ll keep going to meetings, and I’ll talk to my sponsor (who I’m going to ask to marry me), and I’ll fight this until I win. We are going to win.