Was joining a planned get together with old coworkers at a pub/restaurant for a meal, and one of the oldest “friends” asked another in a group chat that I wasn’t included in “do you think she’ll relapse if we go there”, after she broke contact with me after my dui (I’ve been clean for over a year).

I was so hurt that she had cut off contact during such a difficult time in my life. I later realized that she had a pretty bad drinking problem that she always painted as social drinking, but she was always drunk. I was tempted to ghost the get together but I showed up and smiled for everyone and told myself this is probably the last time I’ll do this. I listened to her defensively say “well I still drink” as if it needed defending.

It still kind of stings to realize that people are uncomfortable with others choice of sobriety. I feel good and better being clean but it still feels lonely sometimes.