“Drink with me.” He lifted the glass of Guinness to my lips, holding it there like a holy chalice. Before his release from the psychiatric hospital, I'd cleared all alcohol out of our apartment. Did a golden mean exist where he could have his beer and I wouldn't worry that he would slide back into dangerous dependence? I could refuse, risking a battle. Or I could yield, signaling my trust that he finally had a firm hold on his drinking. I looked down at the dark brew, draped by a white flag of foam, tipped my head back, and surrendered.
Gretchen Clark is a creative nonfiction teacher, writer, and wild horse photographer based in Phoenix, Arizona. writers.com/instructor/gretchen-clark