I put my alcohol and drugs on the top shelf in the pantry.
Higher than I can normally reach.
I need a stepstool to reach them.
But instead of a stepstool, I have a twelve-stepstool.
It’s a stepstool from a twelve-step program.
I get on the first step to be honest with myself: I have no control over my addiction.
With each step, I progress through the program.
Until I reach the top step and don’t need the alcohol and drugs anymore.
Then, I fall from the stepstool and break a hip.
And I’m back on those nasty painkillers again.