A Letter to (and from) My Tia Carla
Dear Tia Carla,

We know that you drink too much and we want to tell you to stop because you are destroying your life. It makes us sad because we are worried about you. You drink too much and we are worried because something bad can happen. You are destroying your life.

I want to tell you about how I feel when I see you drinking. I feel bad because I see your life going down and it is better for me to go away because I don’t like to see you drink. You get stupid and embarrass me and make me sad because people laugh at you. If you fall, the family helps you to get up, but they still laugh at you. And if you keep drinking, I don’t now what will happen. That’s why we are worried.

I want to give you some advice to help you to leave alcohol behind because it is bad for you. I advise you to think about your family and look at what you are doing to them. Try to let go of the alcohol and think of how your life will be without it.

Sincerely,

Jesus Villarreal

Dear David,

I want to tell you that I will try not to drink any more because I changed my life since I got pregnant. Before this, I used to drink because I couldn’t get pregnant; maybe I was depressed or I just wanted to pass the time. I know it is harmful to my baby; so I’m going to quit. Now I am not going to drink because I feel better and because I’m going to have a baby and I don’t want to drink anymore. I don’t want my son to see me drinking, and I want to make another life and be a good example to my son. I will try to never let you guys see me like that again and never hurt other people. I will be a good example for my son .I will give him a good education. I am going to tell him the consequences and what happens when you drink. If I tell that to him, maybe he will never drink and I will never hurt my family again.

Sincerely,

Tia Carla
(Letter created by David, based on an interview with Tia Carla)