" he’s an addict whether he’s using or not. That complicates our relationship, always has. He’s still clean, but to me he seems ready to slip away at any time. I’ve released control— better said, I have released my illusion of control over what might happen to him. We see each other once a week and talk, mostly about how unhappy he is, how much anger he carries for our parents, for Max, and for me. He’s not too interested in the things that have happened to me. In fact, he’s totally self-centered. I’m sure a lot of people would call him an asshole. But what can I say? Blood or no blood, he’s my brother and I love him. The same is true of my parents. "
― Lisa Unger , Beautiful Lies (Ridley Jones, #1)