WE ARE WITHOUT DEFENSE AGAINST THE FIRST DRINK!

There it is, in plain sight, on page 24 of the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Richard Peterson knows this as he walks through the door of his favorite restaurant, celebrating his twenty-ninth year of sobriety. What he's about to encounter will reveal his powerful and intimate struggle with his personified addiction, Angelique. Richard, 60's,  a bit rumpled, carries himself with the air of someone who has known some past success. His face bears the history of a man who has come to terms with life's struggles.  Leading him to his table, away from the bar of course, his young server Emily has no need to hand him a menu. She knows he always orders the sea bass. When Emily heads to the bar, she explains to Marcus the bartender that Richard is celebrating a sobriety anniversary. After Marcus makes Richard his cucumber mocktail, Emily and Marcus surreptitiously down a couple shots of tequila, a sharp contrast to Richard's sobriety.  The story takes a dramatic turn as Richard finishes his meal and looks up to find Angelique, beautiful, mysterious, seductive, and holding a martini , standing at his table looking down at him. She sits down. Richard is in trouble. Angelique is the metaphorical personification of Richard's addiction and only he can see her.   Angelique seductively engages Richard as she describes all the adventures they had together.  Richard counters with memories of rehab, divorce, jail and a car accident. He begins to be drawn into her, into his own mind of how much his addiction nearly destroyed him and yet,  how much comfort, warmth and companionship she, alcohol, provided him. Angelique tempts him to take just one sip of her martini. Richard reveals he has a heart problem, but Angelique pushes the drink towards him and says, "One sip won't hurt your heart." The tension builds as Richard is confronted with the fatal decision to drink. He looks longingly into Angelique's eyes as she says, "Let's get out of here."  Richard and Angelique arrive in front of a liquor store.   As Richard struggles with the choice whether to go in or save himself, he watches a man exit the liquor store and rush to his car. The man gets in, quickly takes a liquor bottle out of the paper bag and drinks greedily. Richard watches. He has a choice to make.