Introduction ⥈ Two Sisters
They say that siblings share 50% of their genes. We are equally related to our siblings, as we are to our parents. This is a story of how two sisters grew closer as addiction deepened, but our stories are very different. Warning: some content may be difficult to read. Some names have been changed. Mine was a world of accountability, while hers hovered between the blurry landscapes of mental illness and addiction. Drawing on our sibling birthright my sister and I made a pact. This memoir shows that whatever happened, our relationship perservered. But our bond hadn’t always been that way. I felt as if I was living part of my life in a dream. Anchored on the one hand by two young children and a husband, my marital relationship was precarious. My baby sister's battle was more visceral. Ultimately, she opted for addiction over mental illness. It carried less stigma and even now, in Canada, there are more resources and endorsements for addicts than for the mentally ill...