Amazing chapter! What Justin is explaining is making so much sense and it's so obvious.

I'm glad that Brian is smoothly starting to see the light and opening up. Talking and sharing has always been painful to him. Justin is doing a great job with his counselling. Showing Brian how he reacts differently depending on people is very enlightening.

This story is really down to earth and so captivating.

The only thing that bothers me is the way they take a cup of bad coffee and throw it quite every time they attend a meeting.

Perfect response from Em! TAG

He's recognizing his triggers. That's good. Lindsay and Michael are big ones.

I think telling Em was the right thing to do. Brian needs as many friends on his side as he can get because I have a feeling things are about to get nasty concerning the girls, Gus and where all his money he pays for Gus goes.

A new jeep. Thought he would go for something classier. Or maybe even the four door.

Emmett might be a good choice as he will keep Brian's news secret and maybe help by making diversion in case of heavy questioning from the gang.

Brian should demand the details on how his money is actually spent by the girls. They decided to have a kid so they must handle the costs.

Justin is a great help.  Things are working out!

Breakthrough chapter.

I'm wondering why Justin didn't suggest Brian to empty the bottles in the sink. It could lessen the risk to drink.

I think it's good for Brian to unload some of his past on Justin.

Hey Sandy! Another amazing chapter! With friends like Michael and Lindsay, who wouldn't want to drink away the memory that they exist? Michael is chronically a child when he doesn't get his way. I'm so glad that Brian was able to withstand the peer pressure and whine fest of the idiot. Michael really NEEDS to find a life, or better yet, to just get left behind immediately. He's never going to grow up nor accept 'New' Brian because he just doesn't have the capacity to do so. That alone is obvious by the way he continually barges into Brian's office instead of actually tending to his own business.

Lindsay just makes me want to deck her. She's always so contradictory in an effort to maintain some faux sense of control. Sadly, it's worked well for her all these years with the way she continually sinks her hooks into Brian's psyche. I'm glad that he's realizing that anger and fear are two of his triggers, and remains determined to stay on the wagon to sobriety.

Calling Justin was an amazing decision on his part. I'm so proud of him!

HAPPY WRITING and HUGS,

~Nichelle

P.S. I'm not sure you know but the chapter in its entirety is reading twice. Just wanted to call your attention to it.

Sandy Darling, I LOVE THIS!! You are doing such an amazing job with the subject matter. My eldest sister and brother had addictions for many MANY years, and now well into their 50s they are finally both clean and sober. It is a constant journey, even for those of us who are supporting their efforts.

I really love Ted, who didn't hesitate to share his own struggles with Brian. He's certainly correct in Brian needing to find other ways to fill his time. It's not so much boredom, but that Brian has to give himself permission to reinvent himself. For so many years, he had cultivated an image which Michael and Lindsay- Hell, EVERYBODY- vicariously lived in. He's has to know that it's absolutely acceptable to want to be someone different; to have something else to look forward to rather than simply exists according to everyone else's expectations. That said, I think Brian's assessment of Michael's reaction to his decision is more than a little accurate. Michael would spend every waking moment whining about who Brian is, what he should be concentrating on, who he should be according to Michael's edicts. So I really hope he doesn't find out until Brian is on surefooting.

As for Lindsay: That sanctimonious harridan is such a damn hypocrite since I'm sure she and Melanie have at the very least, WINE with their dinner every night and Gus is present for that. I mean if you're going to tell Brian that it's irresponsible to drink when he has Gus, shouldn't it have been pointed out that she is certainly NOT having coffee, cola, or Kool-Aid all the time when Gus is with HER either? Just saying! Anyway, I'm glad that he told Justin about her, especially because if Brian falls of the wagon, his interactions with Lindsay (who is like a modern day Joan Kinney in my book) would likely be the culprit.

I'm looking forward to more of this amazing story, and the continual journey of Brian and Justin. Simply freaking marvelous, Darling!

HAPPY WRITING and HUGS,

~Nichelle

Is Justin becoming his sponsor or his friend? He did a good job getting Brian back on track.

I think Brian needs to start speaking at these meetings. Get things off his chest that he really doesn't realize are all weighing heavily on him.

Glad Babylon's pull isn't that strong any longer.

So, Brian knows what Justin does for a living; maybe they could spend time together working on an artistic project; that would get some pressure off Brian; he could spend time with Justin and have something to work on.

Let's hope that Brian can keep that vow.

Ted is a godsent.  There will have to be changes if Brian is to change.