When I regain consciousness, it takes me a full five minutes to realize where I am.

"Mom! He's awake!" Lizzy cries out. I try to sit up but I can't move. I'm too weak. I glance around the room and see my mom standing in the doorway. Her red rimmed eyes lock onto mine.

"Mom?" I croak. Barely even recognizing my own voice.

"What have you done, Daniel?"

I just stare at her.

"What have you done?!"

In the haze of this drug induced confusion, I am at a loss for words. Why does she look angry at me?! Why is she yelling at me?!

After a beat I find my voice. "What have I done?! What the hell do you mean what have I done?!"

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"You knew the terms of the agreement! You knew that it would cost us our lives if you didn't get clean so what did you do?! You go straight out of rehab and shoot up! She leaps towards me before I can react and begins to choke me with her bare hands. As I begin to lose consciousness, I look into the eyes of the woman that brought me into this world. The woman that rocked me to sleep, kissed my knees when I would fall, the woman that read me bedtime stories is going to end my life. Right here, right now, I am going to die at her hand.

I don't know how long I've been out or where I am. It's hard to focus. I can hear the beep, beep, beep, of what I believe to be a hospital monitor. I try to move but my arms and legs are restrained. As my eyes begin to adjust to the darkness, I notice that I am in what appears to be a hospital room and yet, something seems "off" about it.

I try to swallow but my throat feels like it's on fire.

"Hello?"

To my right I hear the distinct tap, tap, tap, of a dripping faucet. The smell of antiseptic fills my nostrils. Panic is starting to take over and I can't breathe.

"Help me!" I scream into the dark room but I am met with silence.

"Help!!" I try to shift my body to loosen the restraints to no avail. The silhouette of a man appears at the foot of the bed.