A short-lived tryst with a much older woman in Atlantic City had completely shifted Arthur’s view of the world. He realized he had been given a second chance — another opportunity to live his life better this time.

He took a train back to Philly to see his mom. He made amends with her and his sister, returning the latter’s engagement ring with a heartfelt apology for having stolen it to pawn for gambling money. He got a job at a local diner and started to attend Gambler’s Anonymous meetings.

The first day was brutal, with the group leader asking a bunch of questions that were very personal, and that made Arthur ashamed of himself. But it got easier as time went on. The group was quite small, so sessions were intimate, and everyone knew each other very well.

Nobody new had joined GA until months after Arthur’s introduction. Almost a year later, you came along. And Arthur was immediately drawn to you because you reminded him so much of himself when he first joined. Your answers to the hard questions had been the exact same as his. He knew immediately that he wanted to be your sponsor.

Your first month in GA was rough. It seemed as though you had been out there against your will, and every night when the group dispersed, you sat outside the community center until everyone had left. Arthur didn’t know why, but he wanted to. So he also waited until everyone else was gone before lowering himself to the ground next to you.

“Hey,” he says quietly. “You, uh… waitin’ on a ride, or something?”