My Sister-in-Law “Pranked” Me by Spiking My Drink at a Family Gathering…

I don’t drink. That’s the short version.

The longer version has roots — deep, ugly ones — tangled in years I rarely talk about. I grew up with two alcoholic parents who mistook cruelty for discipline and chaos for love. Sobriety, for me, isn’t a lifestyle choice. It’s the line between past and present. It’s what lets me sleep at night.

It’s also something I never thought I’d have to explain to my own family — not again.

When I meet new people, I turn down drinks politely, usually with a simple “I don’t drink.” Sometimes they ask why. I don’t tell them. The details are mine, and I’ve earned the right to keep them that way.

Until last weekend, no one had ever pushed me on it.

The second Saturday of every month, my husband and his older sister host a cookout for their old friends — a tradition from childhood that somehow held together through adulthood, careers, marriages, and everything else life throws at people trying to stay close. I always admired that about them.

I’ve been attending these gatherings for years, ever since my husband and I started dating. His friends welcomed me without hesitation. His sister and I always got along — or so I thought.

Last Saturday, my husband took my 11-year-old brother out of town for a weekend program. We’re his legal guardians, and I’ve had custody since I was 20. This time, I went to the cookout alone. I’d done it before. It had always been fine.

My sister-in-law was handing out the usual brunch drinks — tall glasses, clinking ice, the sugary fizz of something light and bubbly. When she reached me, I gave her the usual request.

“Just orange juice, please.”

I always say it gently. No edge. No reason to make it a thing.

She smiled. Handed me a glass.

I took one sip — and immediately spit it out.

Champagne.

Continue in the c0mment👇👇

I turned to my sister-in-law and said oh you must have given me your drink by mistake when I turned I noticed her and two of her friends laughing I was confused and asked what was going on through Giggles my sister-in-law said we thought it would be funny to see how you react to alcohol since we’ve never seen you drink before you should have seen your face I was so shocked that my only response was what the hell as they continued laughing I told them I was leaving I don’t even

remember the drive home because I was trying to keep myself from having a panic attack when I got home I broke down crying my husband and brother got home shortly after and I couldn’t hide how I was feeling even if i’ wanted to my husband immediately asked what was wrong and I broke down again I hate that my brother had to see me cry I try to keep our home as happy and safe as possible after putting on a movie for my brother I explained what happened to my husband he was Furious I’ve never seen him so angry he told me to go relax with

my brother while he handled everything I could hear him yelling at his sister on the phone after almost an hour he came back to sit with us and told me we wouldn’t be seeing her again the next day we told my mother and father-in-law I’ve always been really close with them so I wanted to confide in them though I was nervous because it’s their daughter and I didn’t want to speak badly about her to them to my surprise they were absolutely mortified and apologetic on her behalf I was so relieved as my little brother adores them and it would

have been devastating if our relationship with them had suffered because of this this past week has been strange I feel deeply betrayed I hate that my sister-in-law and her friends used me as some sort of entertainment I know they don’t understand the trauma this triggered in me but I’m confused as to why they thought that was okay I also feel guilty because I don’t want my husband to stop attending the cookouts or to lose time with his friends and I don’t want him and his sister to stop seeing each other because of me my

husband has been amazing and reassured me that it wouldn’t be my fault if he and his sister never speak again still it’s hard not to feel that way don’t worry I’ve had several emergency therapy sessions this week and I know I’ll be okay it was just such a bizarre experience it might seem like a small inconsequential event but it’s been a crash course in trauma triggers PTSD and more typing it out has been so helpful thanks for listening to my ramblings update 4 days later thank you to everyone who left kind comments and

messages on my previous post I’ll get right into the update a lot of you guess correctly this isn’t the first time my sister-in-law has done something like this she is definitely what some would consider a mean girl my husband and his parents have had multiple falling outs with her over the years but they’ve been on good terms recently until she pranked me so yes I can see how my husband’s immediate reaction to go no contact might seem like an overreaction but he dealt with a lot from her in the past I don’t want to give specific examples

because they’re personal to my husband and his family I hope you understand here’s what happened after my last post after talking with my therapist and my husband I decided to message my sister-in-law I asked if she wanted to get lunch and talk about what happened I wanted to explain some of my past to her my PTSD diagnosis and why would she did affected me so much I just wanted this to be over so we could come to an understanding but she never responded a couple of my husband’s friends who were at the cookout when the prank happened

called us to check on me they said they had no idea my sister-in-law planned that and would never have let it happen that’s probably why she didn’t clue them in on the prank they told me that after I left they told her it wasn’t cool after a couple of days I gave up hope of her messaging me back and decided to start moving on yesterday my sister-in-law blew up my husband’s phone she said some pretty awful things to summarize it was along the lines of it’s not my fault your wife is a pcce who’s scared of champagne she called me all

sorts of names everything from btch to CNT she said she never liked me and wish my husband had stayed with his high school girlfriend they broke up when they were 18 by the way my husband is 30 now L the worst thing she said was that my husband was just doing charity by taking in a couple of Orphans if you don’t remember I have custody of my 11-year-old brother and we don’t have contact with our parents because they’re abusive so yeah some pretty awful stuff I was honestly just shocked I thought we got along fine we were never best

friends or anything but I had no idea she held this much animosity towards me maybe she’s just embarrassed and lashing out because her parents and some of her friends berated her for it I don’t know my husband sent her just one message back saying he never wants to see or talk to her again and then he blocked her and her husband’s numbers he told his parents what happened and they were Furious too I don’t know what they said to her but they’re about as done with her as my husband is since I’ve been in therapy and have support around me her

words didn’t bother me much I know she obviously has her own problems to deal with and I’m just her latest Target the worst thing she did was bring up my brother I’ll never forgive her for that he’s not an orphan he has two parents who love him and I’m not an orphan either I have in-laws who love and support me they’ve always had my back even when it comes to their own daughter if I never see my sister-in-law again I’d be fine with that I truly hope that one day she’ll come to her senses and understand that the way she treats

people isn’t right we’ve decided to turn every second Saturday of the month into Family Day in place of the cookouts I’m going to be just fine I’m already feeling miles better than I did when I wrote my previous post anyway again thank you for all the kind words