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Chapter 7

Karen's POV

I'm heading to the kitchen to make something to eat, when I see Drew sitting outside of his room crying. "What's wrong Drew?" I kneel down beside him.

"I want to play with my daddy." He sobs.

"Why can't you?"

"He told me to leave him alone." That's not like Kenny at all. He never tells Drew to leave him alone.

"Just go in there."

"He said he'll let me know when I can come back in the room."

I'm wondering if maybe Kenny is having a bad day. "We'll see about that." I try to open the door, but it's locked. "Oh great, he locked the door!" I start knocking. "Kenny? Open the door!" No response.

"He's not answering?"

"Nope." I grab a Bobby pin out of my hair and pick the lock. I open the door and I see Kenny lying on the ground. I don't want Drew to see that so I quickly close the door.

"Why did you do that?" He asks.

I bend down and smile. "Sweetie, why don't you go play video games?"

"What's wrong with my daddy?"

"He's fine, I just need to talk to him. Okay?"

"Okay." Drew does as he's told.

Once the coast is clear, I go back in the room. I close and lock the door and get a better look at Kenny. I notice he has a needle in his hand! Oh my God, he's doing drugs! I kneel down next to him and shake him. "Kenny? Kenny, can you hear me?"

He opens one eye. "K-Karen…?" He says in between breaths.

"Kenny, what have you done? Are you doing drugs?"

"You weren't…supposed…to…find out…" He manages to open the other eye.

"I'm calling 911!"

"No…Kevin…"

"What?"

"Kevin…call…Kevin…he knows..."

"He knows you're doing drugs and he didn't try to stop you?"

"He…can…help…" Kenny closes his eyes.

I see Kenny's phone and I immediately grab it and call Kevin. "Kevin?"

"Karen? I'm surprised to hear from you. What's up?"

"I need you here immediately. Kenny has overdosed and he's refusing medical attention. He said you know what to do."

Kevin chuckles. I don't see anything funny about this situation. "Of course I do. That's the benefit of working in a pharmacy. I'll be there shortly. In the meantime, stay with him and keep him awake."

"I'll try, but he's in and out of consciousness. He really should call an ambulance."

"He doesn't have insurance. Like I said, I'll be there shortly. Where's Drew?"

"I sent him to the living to play video games."

"Good, he doesn't need to see that."

"I know, he would traumatized for life."

"Yeah, well anyway, see you soon." We hang up. I kneel down beside Kenny again and lightly shake him.

"Kenny? You need to stay awake." I continue to shake him.

"I'm…so…tired…" He manages to get one eye opened again.

"I know, but you need to stay awake until Kevin gets here. He'll be here soon."

"Okay…"

"How long have you been this?"

"Years…many years…

"Why are you doing this?" I whisper.

"She…doesn't…want…me…"

I'm so confused. "Who?"

"Bebe…"

"She dumped you five years ago. What does that have to do with you overdosing?"

"I…saw…her. She…doesn't…love…me. She…has…new…boy…friend." Kenny struggles to get out.

"I'm sorry Kenny, but this isn't new information. She told you before that you having Drew was the end of your relationship. It's been five years, you shouldn't be surprised that she's moved on."

"Boy…friend…hit…me…" He tries to pull up his shirt. I end up pulling it up for him and see a big purple bruise on his stomach.

"Oh my God! Does it hurt?"

"No…probably…in…the…morning…"

"Either way, so Bebe doesn't want you, who cares? Drugs isn't the answer! What about Drew? How do you think he would feel if you lost you?"

"He…would…hate…me. I…hate…myself."

"You need to get yourself together. This isn't the way Kenny. You could die from this! Do you get that?"

"I'm…sorry…so…sorry…" He closes his eyes again. This time it looks like he stopped breathing, but I can't be too sure.

"No, no, no! You have to stay awake! Kevin will be here soon!" I shake him gently. "Kenny, please! Come back to me! If not for yourself, then for your beautiful little boy!" There's a knock on the door. "Yes?"

"It's me Karen. Open up!" Kevin tells me.

I unlock the door and let Kevin in. "Oh thank God. He just passed out. I still think I should call 911."

Kevin shakes his head. "No need." He pulls something out of his pocket.

I raise my eyebrow. "What is that?"

"It's called Narcan. It reverses an opioid overdose." He sprays the medication in both of Kenny's nostrils. Kenny continues to lie there.

"How do you know if it's working?"

Kevin puts his ear up to Kenny's nose. "He's breathing, so that's a good sign. Dude, wake up!" He shakes Kenny violently.

"Don't be so rough!"

"I've been through this with him before, I know what I'm doing!" Kevin slaps Kenny in the face really hard. "I said, WAKE UP!" He slaps him again. "Wake up, damnit!"

"Kevin…?" He responds groggily. He sits up slowly. "What happened?"

"You OD'd again, dumbass! What the fuck is wrong with you? Your kid is here!"

Kenny puts his hands on his head. "Please stop yelling at me Kevin, my head in killing me."

"You're lucky it's only your head, you fucking moron!" Kevin slaps him once again.

"Kevin, that's enough! You're hurting him!" I step in.

"Karen, remember you asked for my help!" Kevin reminds me. Now I realize I should've went with my first instinct.

"Yeah, but I didn't expect you to get violent! He almost died on us! I still think he should see a medical professional!"

"I AM a medical professional!"

I shake my head. "You're a pharmacy technician, not a doctor! That's what he needs."

"No doctors, please!" Kenny steps in as he lies down on his bed.

I sit down next to him and take his hand. "Kenny, I'm worried about you. You need help, serious help! I knew you were having issues because of school, but I didn't know it was this severe. I never thought you would turn to drugs." I start crying.

Kenny squeezes my hand. "Karen, please don't cry."

"I'm sorry, but I'm afraid for you and for Drew. You got lucky this time, but what if you're not so lucky the next time?"

"Then promise me you will take good care of Drew for me."

I push his hand away. "Are you serious Kenny? You want to end it like this?"

He shakes his head. "No, but I can't stop. I can't get through a day without Karen. If I stop, it might kill me."

"No it won't. You're stronger than that."

"You don't know how it is to be me."

"Make me understand how hard it is! This is stupid and dangerous!"

"I can't make you understand."

I stand up. "Fine. I hope you can understand this, if I catch you doing drugs in this house again, I'll have you arrested!"

Kenny's eyes widen. "You wouldn't."

I nod. "I would. There's a child in this house and he doesn't need to be exposed to that! Plus if you're in jail, then I know you won't be doing drugs!"

"Karen, give us a few minutes." Kevin tells me.

"You're kicking me out?"

"Yes, I need to make sure Kenny is okay and just chat for a bit."

"I have some words for you too since you knew about this and didn't say anything!"

"You can let me have it later, but for now, go check on Drew or something!" I leave the room. I'm so angry with both of them right now, I could scream. I want Kenny to understand that he's messing up his life. I wish I could go to my parents about this, but they're so damn screwed up that won't be able to help him. But I just thought of someone who could!

I grab my phone and dial a number. "Hi, it's Karen, Kenny's sister. Look, I know you're busy with school, but can you come visit Kenny as soon as you can. He really could use a friend right now…"