On Sobriety

Once upon a time, I would make a beeline for the drinks if I arrived at a social event. I was a proud ‘chipper’ of cigarettes — if I was drinking or in certain moods there was a ritual about heading to the corner deli and overpaying for a pack of cigarettes. Every so often I would find the crushed packs, still with a few bent cigarettes inside of them, in the backs of closets or neglected jacket pockets. I often went to sleep fantasizing about the cup of coffee I would have when I woke up.