Games With Your Favorite Substance Abuser One: Although he admits his alcoholism, let him drink Jim Beam the first weekend he spends at your apartment. Tell yourself he can handle it. Two: Let him drink the next weekend too. Have lots of sex. Start falling for him. Remind him of what you did when you realize he forgets. Three: When he plays rape and tells you'll he's going to teach you to take his cock down your throat, freak out. But don't make him leave. Instead, lie by him as he snores, listening to the grinding of his teeth. Count the seconds until morning. Later, with pills, sleep twenty hours. Four: Resolve not to see him again if he's drinking. Stay awake. Go crazy. Write poems and type his book (you said you would). The next time he calls, inform him. When he says he'll stop, believe him. When you pick him up and he's drunk, don't drive away like you want to. Five: Go buy the tequila and margarita mix you tried to make him wait until Saturday for. Make a pitcher. Drink. Calm down. Tell yourself, "All I needed to do was relax." Think, "This will work out. It's not that bad. Fall completely for him in the kitchen when you laugh and make out. Have more sex. Plan to marry him. Six: Make sure he's up in time for the event the next morning. Cringe when he begins to drink first thing, but make sure you look pretty for him today. At the potluck after, keep your eye on him no matter where he goes. Especially worry that he'll spill red wine on the white rug. Catch the glass when the time comes. Seven: Tell him it's time to go. Don't fret about the woman he threw himself at. Just smile, smile, smile at everyone on your way out. At home, try to put him to bed. Wrestle around when he pretends rape again. Yell at him a bit: just enough to quiet him. Eight: When he wakes, argue for hours. Hate him with every piece of your body. Order him out, but don't make him leave. Let him fuck you to shut him up. Sleep on the couch. Dream about murder. Cry when you get the heart. Decide that it's over. Pray he doesn't rise before morning. Nine: The next day, be cold. Tell him he's out in perfectly certain terms. But let him stay a while, and, after that, another hour. Read the letter he writes in the meantime. Feel close to him. Decide to remain friends. Then have sex again. When he passes out, hold his beautiful hands to your lips, and love him. Ten: Resolve not to see him again if he's drinking....