By the age of twenty, Joey has OD'd, attempted suicide, quit college, survived a near-fatal car accident, done time behind bars, and been kicked out of rehab. Now manipulative and hateful, the once sweet and charming Joey is long gone. This is the poignant story of a defiant addict and the mother who won't give up on him. She finally realizes that it hurts more to hang on than to let go, and that letting go is not the same thing as giving up.

On the cards -- Silent scream -- Dissonance -- Something crazy-bad -- More than a blip -- Mental moonshine -- Not my son -- Hate me -- Ghost of Joey yet-to-come -- The straw -- Green frosting giggles -- Crash -- Smudgy wall -- Twenty-five nights -- Awakening -- The elephant -- Patching the hole -- Down in my heart to stay.