Chapter Two: Sober Thoughts

**References to drugs and alcohol ahead**

Veronica groaned as she began to wake. She should be used to waking up on her bedroom floor but she wasn't. And her body was screaming at her to get up.

How much had I had to drink last night?
What did I drink?
What did I smoke?
Snort?

The questions bounced across her Brain like a ping-pong ball. And it was making her already hurting head, much much worse. She had to get up. Now.

Using all the strength in her body, she made her way to the hallway. Her plan was to go to the bathroom, but she didn't know if she'd make it without stumbling along the way.

She successfully reached her destination. The first thing she wanted, no needed to do, was to brush her teeth. The taste of beer and other alcoholic beverages were now sour in her mouth. She could probably kill an entire garden right now if she only just breathed on it. She scrubbed and scrubbed. Her head throbbed even more as she moved. 

After rinsing she pulled some pain killers out of the medicine cabinet. Although the pills were prescribed to a Mr. David Banks, it didn't mean she wasn't going to take them. What was the saying? Finders keepers losers weepers? 

She swallowed the Hydrocodone pills down with a cup of water. It wouldn't take long for her pounding headache to be gone now. She grabbed a pack of cigarettes and pulled one out to light.

Her kids? Where were they?! She panicked. She was suppose to wake them up this morning! She pushed past the last round of nausea threatening to escape her body and went to Jeremy's room.

Upon entering her eldest's room, she discovered only a neatly made bed with no sign of Jeremy. When she checked out the Nursery she also noted that it was empty. They were gone. She exhaled a cloud of smoke and raked her fingers through her messy hair. 

From the sun setting, she could tell she was knocked out longer than she assumed. She took a drag from her cigarette. 

Does he think he can be a better Parent than me? She thought in reference to her oldest son. He was always running around after Malcolm as if she couldn't. As if she wasn't capable. 

"Well I carried you and him!" She mumbled under her breath. I am a good mother. And he needs to start respecting me more. She continued with her thoughts. 

She slid unto the floor with a small thud. Reality set in as she nearly missed the beer bottle. She wasn't a good mother and she was lucky her children hadn't ran away yet. She turned the cigarette away from her and placed her head onto her arm. She was the worst mother ever. She had to be. 

"He's only 17. He deserves to live his life, not raise a toddler." She cried. 

"He must hate me so much." She carried on. Veronica was having her daily pity party. She would feel bad for her lack of involvement in her kids lives and not taking proper care of them, yet everyday she failed to act on her thoughts. 

Like always, her high took over and all depressing thoughts were on their way out the window. She stood on her feet and showered, dressed and was ready for another night out. 

The bags under her eyes were now concealed with tons of concealer, foundation and powder. Her eyes were refreshed with Visine. And her mouth was freshened with a minty piece of Winterfresh gum. Her hair was now much more tamed and in loose waves. Her outfit was just right. Eye-catching, but not overly revealing. As she walked out of the door she pondered which club she would frequent tonight. 

Twenty minutes or so later, Jeremy and Malcolm made their way home. He had stayed at school late to finish up his homework in a less stressful environment. He could smell the scent of cigarette smoke as he strolled into the living room. Malcolm coughed a bit and Jeremy took him to his room. To their dismay, the smell was there too. He opened a window and hoped it would carry the smell out. 

He plopped Jeremy near his toy chest and gave him a small kiss on the head. 

"Dinner will be ready soon Champ." He said and left the room. 

The only thing in the refrigerator were bottles of juice and Macaroni and Cheese. Sadly, there was no milk. He had enough money in his wallet for some pizza and wings. He pulled his cell out of his pocket and called the local Pizza joint to have them deliver their meal for tonight.