Breaking the Cycle

    By Danielle Gonzalez

    Breaking the Cycle cover image

    03 Apr, 2024

    a woman sitting at a table with a book in her hand and a lamp in the background with a clock on the wall, tachisme, a character portrait, Araceli Gilbert, promotional image

    Emma sat anxiously in the living room, her eyes darting to the clock. She was waiting for Mike, her husband, who was late again.

    a woman sitting on a couch in a living room with a lamp on the table behind her and a couch with a lamp on it, lowbrow, a character portrait, Clarice Beckett, promotional image

    Mike walked in, trembling and scratching his arm, his eyes averted. He asked Emma for money, promising it was for something important.

    a man and a woman sitting at a table in a restaurant looking at each other with a serious look on their face, international gothic, a poster, Dan Scott, promotional image

    Against her better judgment, Emma handed him the money, choosing to believe his lie. She told herself he was getting better, he was no longer using drugs.

    a woman standing in a living room next to a couch and a man sitting on a couch in the background, serial art, a poster, Amy Weber, promotional image

    She replayed the conversation with Mike's parents in her head. They had insisted they could handle Mike's addiction, that professional treatment wasn't necessary.

    a woman standing in a room with a ceiling fan and a bunch of debris on the floor and walls, serial art, a character portrait, Clarice Beckett, promotional image

    Emma remembered the last time she denied him money. Mike had become violent, breaking furniture and threatening her until she had to call his parents.

    a woman standing in a room full of wood chips and a desk full of books and papers in the background, antipodeans, poster art, Clarice Beckett, promotional image

    His parents had promised that they would help Mike. They reassured Emma that they had everything under control. But as Emma looked at Mike now, she knew nothing had changed.

    a man and a woman standing next to each other in a living room with a clock on the wall, international gothic, concept art, Araceli Gilbert, promotional image

    Mike apologized, promising to change. But Emma knew she couldn't live like this anymore. She told Mike she loved him, but she wanted a divorce.

    a woman standing in a room full of debris and broken windows with a door open to the room that is full of debris, serial art, a character portrait, Clarice Beckett, promotional image

    Emma walked out, leaving behind the life she had known. She needed to find peace, away from the constant cycle of addiction and false promises.

    a man standing in a hallway with a plant in the corner of the room behind him and a potted plant in the hallway, private press, a character portrait, Brad Holland, promotional image

    Four months later, Mike checked himself into rehab. He was finally ready to face his addiction.

    a man sitting in a chair talking to another man in a room with windows and a desk with a laptop, private press, a stock photo, Chip Zdarsky, promotional image

    His counselor explained that the journey to recovery often depends on the stages of denial and acceptance experienced by the addict and their family.

    two men sitting in a hotel room talking to each other and a bed in the background with a lamp on, institutional critique, a photo, David Annand, promotional image

    Mike understood that his family was stuck in a cycle of denial and enabling. He was determined to break this cycle and start anew.

    a man sitting in a chair looking out a window with a serious look on his face and shoulder,, arts and crafts movement, a character portrait, Douglas Shuler, promotional image

    Despite the long journey ahead, Mike felt a glimmer of hope. He was finally taking the first step towards a better future, away from the clutches of addiction.

    Breaking the Cycle

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