Relapse by Quirah Casey

Author:Quirah Casey [Casey, Quirah]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Independent
Published: 2020-02-29T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY

I stare down at my canvas, smiling at the orange horizon. The lines are a little murky and I wish it had more color to it, but it’s a start.

The second I’d dropped Tanner off at school this morning, I’d come home and headed straight to the basement.

My canvas was calling to me.

I look at the time on my phone and realize I’ve been down here for over four hours. But for the first time in a while, I feel completely relaxed.

Art was my escape long before drugs and alcohol. But after I’d discovered the high those two things gave me, I’d started to think that I needed them in art to create great pieces. It felt like they made me more creative, more open and free minded. Now I realize that was just a crutch and excuse that I used. A reason to not put the bad habits down.

I stand, grabbing the ladder in the basement and setting it up against the wall right next to a small shelving area that sits at the top of the room. I take the painting off the canvas before climbing the ladder and placing it on the shelf to dry.

Hopping off the ladder, I look up at the painting in satisfaction.

Fuck, I can’t remember the last time I was this sober staring at a painting with pride.

Then again, I’ve been in a really good mood for the last couple of days. Ever since the guys and I came to an agreement to continue exploring this thing between us.

I’ve been feeling lighter, happier.

My phone rings and I look down at the screen, smiling. “Two parents in two weeks, I must be on some sort of roll.”

My father lets out a laugh. “I’m sorry, Ivy, I meant to call you earlier. Unfortunately, I was out of the country and the cell reception was shit.” His deep voice is slow as molasses, the southern flare impossible to miss.

“It’s okay, I understand.” And I do, because while it’s been weeks since I’ve talked to my father, I’m used to it when he’s out of the country for work. A retired firefighter after too many years of stress on the body had forced him out, he now works as a peace corps volunteer. He loves the job, but it takes him out of the states often. But with no other children than me and never married, there wasn’t much keeping him tied down to a sedentary life, so I understand.

“I heard Mom was out there visiting you last week.” The slight fear in his voice makes me laugh.

“Yeah, Grandma was here, but she didn’t get up to too much trouble.” As much as I wish that Grandma would have stayed a little longer, she’d gone back home a couple of days ago to help one of my cousins’ kids with a bake sale. Fortunately, she’s promised to come back in a couple of months and spend more time with us.

“Yeah.” Dad clears his throat. “She told me about your… neighbors.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.