Freedom came with more decisions than I was used to making. Every day required dozens of small choices: routes, weather, how far was too far, when a short trip became too much.
My ex and I got together when we were in our late teens. We came from similar economic backgrounds, but probably very different family environments. She grew up in a bit of a drinking culture. But look, it started out really well and things were good, certainly in the early days.
Think about the last time you ran into someone you hadn't seen in years, maybe a school friend. You remembered them a certain way, maybe loud, always joking, the kind of person who filled a room. But when you met again, they seemed quieter and more thoughtful than you remembered. For a second, you wondered if time had traded them out for someone else.
Dougher's life encompasses both the exhilaration of unique experiences and the profound pain of addiction, illustrating the stark contrast of being an addict.