This is a commentary on the ethics of listening as can be gleaned from two narratives drawn from real-life encounters and crafted in the mode of fiction. "The Spiral" by Rakhi Ghoshal and "The Liquid Miscreant" by Aiswarya Sasi are narratives of the indignities inflicted by alcoholism on families and individuals. The narrators in both instances are outsiders who have to listen and bear witness to the suffering and resistance that they witness. This commentary argues that both narratives offer readers an opportunity to reflect on what is entailed in the ethics of listening. It is hence suggested that the components of an active, dynamic and ethical listening entail empathetic presence, non-intrusive reception, and bearing witness with compassion.