I walked over to the TV and peered into the dresser below it. That's where dad kept his papers - unpaid invoices that were piling up. I rummaged through the mess with growing rage and desperation mixing together and connecting into one disjointed feeling that I refused to accept as my own. I came across a medicine box and a leaflet. My eyes wandered over the technical terms in the text and I tried in vain to recognize them.

They turned out to be strong prescription sedatives. One powder was missing.

But what could one powder do when combined with vodka?

Exasperated, I headed to the bathroom with the medicine,...