I lost

She's just pretending that the conversation didn't even take place yesterday, she ignores it.

"Here's a present from me and your dad." She holds out a small present and I look at her in surprise.

I carefully unwrap it and hold a car key in my hand.

“Seriously mum? I don't live in LA anymore, just in case you've forgotten. ”I put the key on the table.

"But you'll come back, until then he'll be safely in our garage." She whistles and I go into the kitchen.

I need a coffee, otherwise I won't survive this ...

My dad is in the office and I'm not even surprised, I spend my days in LA looking forward to flying back to Dublin on January 2nd.

The banquets become a spectacle that is second to none. Every day new guests and always smiling friendly and providing information about whether I have managed to get clean in the last three months. I didn't even know that I had a problem with alcohol or drugs ...

Okay, I'd like to have a drink, but I wouldn't call it a problem.

Though Dublin is where the snow lies, I am freezing here ...

The cold feeling of my parents is bothering me.

Have you always been like that and I was just too jaded to notice?

New Year's Eve is the big annual New Year's party, a dozen people are scurrying around the house when I come down to breakfast.

Before it was noon, I had two glasses of champagne to get through it all.

In the early evening I notice that I haven't touched a drop of alcohol in the last few months and my perception slowly but steadily begins to blur with every further glass.

At some point I'll sit on the terrace and follow the whole theater with little interest.

I'm in a long, dark blue evening dress embroidered with sequins, my hair is artfully pinned up and my fingernails shine after a manicure.

How I would love to be in Dublin now ... with Dex and Grace on the couch.

Safe and secure ...

"Anastasia?" A squeaky voice penetrates me and I look up in amazement.

Carmen, one of my former “friends” comes up to me and pulls me up from my chair. “Dear God, I haven't seen you in ages.” She gives me a kiss on the left and right on the cheek.

"Carmen." I reply without joy in my voice.

"Come on Anastasia ..." she plays at me. "Let's get out of here, I know where the party is still going on today." She pulls me behind her and I suspect that it can't end well.

Still, I don't want to stay a second longer in this house and take the key of my Christmas present from the dresser.

Two hours later, I find myself dancing on the counter of some club with a glass of champagne in hand.

I clearly drank a glass or two too much today, but I don't care right now ...

It's late afternoon the next day when Carmen and I stumble out of the club, unlock my car and get behind the wheel.

We don't get far, to be more precise, to the next intersection where I hit the man in front from behind without braking.

He calls the police immediately and I have to undergo a rapid alcohol test.

1.4 per mille is the devastating verdict and I am taken to the station while Carmen is brought to a hospital because her alcohol level is beyond good and bad.

A doctor takes blood from me to determine the exact value and I am placed in a cell.

"Would you like to call someone?" Asks a young officer and I shake my head.

"I assume my parents have been informed." I look at him and he nods.

It takes almost two hours before my parents show up and buy me out of custody.

“Miss Coleman will face charges of drunk driving, hazard to the road and personal injury. She shouldn't leave the country in the near future. ”The officer informs us after my parents have been informed about the accident.

“Tomorrow my daughter will fly to Europe to continue her studies, since she has a registered place at a prestigious university, it will not be necessary to tie her to the States. For a negotiation, should one come, she will of course be present. ”My dad grabs my arm and pulls me out to his car.

I get in the back while my mum and dad sit in the front.

We are silent the entire drive and I stare out the window. In the last few months I've been hoping so much to finally have left that part of my life behind, but I haven't improved a bit ...

Not when I'm here.

When I get to the house, I go upstairs, take a shower and go to bed.

I dumped real crap again, this accusation could be the drop that brings the barrel to overflow.

I already have too many things in my file, this time the judge will definitely not let me get away with it ...

Only the next morning do I dare to go back downstairs and to my astonishment both my mum and dad are sitting at the breakfast table when I come in and Izobell pours me a coffee.

“If you plan to act like this every time you come to visit, then I can do without it.” My dad glared at me “You made it again that we had to pick you up from the sobering cell, you have a 50,000 Dollar car, which was just two weeks old, destroyed and not to forget you have now managed to drive your professional future to the wall for good. ”He shakes his head“ Congratulations Anastasia Colemann, you did it again. “He claps his hands and I feel tears well up inside of me.

But not because what he says hits me, but because he makes me angry ...

“I do not tolerate such a thing. I don't want you to visit us again. You are welcome to come back if you understand the responsibilities of the Colemana name and behave more appropriately. “He suddenly hits the table with the flat of his hand. "Have you even thought about it for a second?"

“No Dad.” I answer truthfully “And should I tell you why?” Now I look at him angrily “I expected a lot when I decided to come home, but nothing ... absolutely nothing happened. You weren't happy to see me, nor did you ask about my grades. For the last three months I have only studied to pass the semester and I can't do anything, absolutely nothing from you. You don't want me here anymore. ”I get up“ Good, because I don't want to be here either. ”

"Anastasia wait!" My mum follows me.

“No Mum, nothing Anastasia…” I turn to her with tears in my eyes. “I know I always have to be considerate of you, because you have lost a son. But Mum, I lost the person with John who made everything here worth living for me. If I stay here, I'll go under, yesterday evening showed that more than clearly. ”I shake my head and, when I get to the guest room, stuff the rest of my things into my bag.