Soren Nicholas Roth

I don’t think anything. I don’t want to put any more pressure on the matter. I think once I hit year five, then we can really celebrate. 

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I’m glad he’s finally in a good spot, but god damn… if it didn’t give us medical PTSD. 

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I’ve been doing good too. I’ve not used anything since I got to Nora’s. It’s been almost three years. Isn’t that sick?! My therapist told me to celebrate it. 

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It is sick, Wren. I’m really proud of you. 

Thanks for talking to me, man. Not many’a my friends got young kids, so they don’t know what it’s like. 

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Yeah, man, no problem. I really can’t imagine what you guys are going through. I’ll always be around if you need me. Ben’s gonna be alright. I know I said it already, but I mean it. He will. 

I know he will be and these days will be just a memory, but goddamn…. I head back to work next week full time, so at least I’ll be close in proximity. I finally get what these parents are going through bringing their kids to the hospital. I pray you never gotta go through it. 

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I pray I never have to go through it either, and to be honest, I think Moon was a one ‘n done in terms of kids for me. As long as he doesn’t break any bones or get too sick growing up, hopefully I’ll be alright and stay outta the hospitals with ‘em. Mina’s a kook sometimes though, so, she might end up busting something too, but yeah. Yeah, man, and I really mean it when I say let me watch your kids or cook ya’ll some dinner or do anything I can to help. 

I feel like since I moved out here and didn’t tell Callan that we were leaving Plumfeld that I’ve been a royal jackass to Carlyle. Like shittiest dad of the year award goes to me, probably. 

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You had different circumstances with the whole cult thing, man. By leaving you also gave them the opportunity to leave and start a new, better life too. It’s not your fault they didn’t follow. 

Uh, yeah, I’d like that a lot, actually. 

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Awesome. Y’know, I’m still just thinking about it, but, I might become a sponsor. I’m doing good with my sobriety. I like us helping and being there for each other. I’m thinking it’d just be rewarding to help out another kid ‘er two. 

He’s a little bigger than that. He’s like two handfuls. Aubree got to hold him last time we were there. Not for very long and he had the wires and tubes all over him still, but… you know. She got to hold him. It’s nice he’s at the same hospital I work at. I pop down to see him when I can, but they won’t let me in since he’s my son, not my patient. He should be okay, but…. he’s got a fight ahead of him. And I’ve got some long talks with insurance companies on the phone….

Yeah, yeah, I bet. Just one day at a time, man, y’know like they’ll tell ya in AA. One day at a time. It’s corny, but true. And in a couple’a years he’ll be healthy and running around causing chaos and these times will just feel like a bad, weird nightmare. 

Oh, I got her that new camera lens she’s been talking about. 

That’s not too much, right?

No, no. That’s perfect. She’ll love it. G'job. Hey, I’m thinking of hitting up a meeting tomorrow night. You want to come with me? 

Uh, no, I actually already got her something…. Wait… what did you get her? Cause I thought my gift was real nice, and I swear, if we got her the same thing, I’ll scream. 

You know that expensive skincare brand that she likes? I got her a whole gift set thingy they were selling at Sephora. Well, Colbie helped me pick it out actually. And then this necklace with our three birthstones on it. Thought it was a nice sibling thing, y’know. What about you? 

Yeah, here. 

Fuck. I got like seven kids at this point, but each one gives me about a heart attack when they’re born, and now with Benny… I, god. You’re lucky Moon was healthy, ya know?

Thanks. Yeah. I never believed in God until Moon was born. Sounds corny, but now I realize every day how lucky we are.