DISCLAIMERS: I DO NOT OWN INCEPTION.

I paced up and down the living room floor, drowning my mind with ways to confess.

"Mom, Dad."

They were both standing opposite me, watching expectantly.

"Arthur, what's wrong? Did you do something illegal?" my mom asked. I found myself laughing at the irony.

"No," I decided to say.

"Get someone pregnant?"

"Ok, first of all, I'm 28. I'm not stupid."

My mom tapped her foot. "Well? What is it then?"

I stopped and turned to look at them. I inhaled slowly. "Ok, just hear me out. Don't get mad until I'm done."

They nodded. I sighed.

"Ok. Around a month ago, I started drinking. A lot. One day I took too much and ended up in hospital."

"Oh God," my mom whispered. I held my hand up.

"After I left, I continued drinking. I met an old friend who got me into…smoking as well. My friends tried to snap me out of it but…I had this obsessive need to…keep going." I paused. "A few days ago…I started taking cocaine."

I heard a sharp intake of breath.

"Are you serious?"

I turned around and saw my dad with an angry expression on his face. My mom had her head in her hands and was muttering things like 'How could you?' and 'Why?'

"Dad-"

"How could you do this?" he snapped. "How could you could control of your life so easily."

I was taken back. "I…I didn't mean-"

"How could you be so goddamn stupid?"

I clenched my fist. "Please, don't call me stupid. I never intended to do those things," I said through gritted teeth.

"Arthur? Why did you do this?"

"I didn't-"

"Is it work?"

"No he's being a fucking idiot."

I felt anger rising through me. I came here for support and help, not judgement. I would have stayed at the warehouse for that.

"I just wanted to-"

Dad stepped forward. "To what? Kill yourself? Start something disgusting and stupid?"

"CAN YOU SHUT THE FUCK UP?" I found myself screaming. I staggered back, surprised by the sound of my own anger. I blinked. I suddenly began to feel dizzy.

"Arthur?"

"I'm fine," I mumbled. I began to stumble. I placed my hand on the mantle for support, but ended up knocking over a vase instead.

"What's wrong?"

I shut my eyes and fell to the ground. I think I may have hit my head, because I remember a flash of pain before I fell into blackness.