Friday, June 13, 2014

Back at It

While driving home from the office yesterday I see a woman on the street who looks vaguely familiar. Then I recognize her as a former client. She's with a man wearing a slingshot, covered in tattoos, who's doing the prison stroll. Even though it's over 105°, they're in a hurry to get somewhere. My gut tells me they're headed for the connection.

It was sad to see because this woman did well for a minute. Eventually though, she'd get impatient and start complaining. About the groups, the other clients, and the fact that she had to be accountable. Finally she'd get frustrated and leave.

The first time was to move in with her boyfriend, whom she'd met in treatment. But before they could get together he heard she was using and cut her loose. Eventually, she got tired of what she was doing and returned to the program.

This last time she left it was the same scenario. Impatience. Complaining. Then she found Mr. Wonderful and it was time to go again.

It pains me to see those we've invested time in back in the middle of their addictions. Hopefully she'll get enough pain to come back and get it right.

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