All That Mattered

“One more,” he urged, taking a drag.

“Just one,” I said, popping the last pill in the bottle. The walls around me swam and danced as the pills took effect.

“You’re not like anyone else Katie, you know? I can trust you,” he looked at me, lost in a cloud of smoke. I nodded, wondering why he didn’t notice the snake curling around his neck.

“My mom is going to wonder where I am;” a bitter chuckle escaped my lips “she’d flip if she knew her ‘perfect’ family wasn’t so perfect.” Todd didn’t reply, he was in his own world. “Hey gimme some of that,” I leaned over and grabbed the joint out of his hand. I inhaled deeply, again and again. “Todd?” No reply “Todd?” I looked over at him, he wasn’t moving. I shook him, no response. He slumped, unseeing. Concern creased my brow. “Todd?”

With a start, I realized he wasn’t breathing. The world went red. I couldn’t let them know Todd was dead. I couldn’t bring myself to face them. I couldn’t behere.

I ran out the door, grabbing the Whiskey and Vikiden on my way out.

I stumbled through the alleys; no thought in my mind, save for Todd was dead. Todd, my best friend, Todd, the one who had introduced me to the wonderful world of narcotics.

Unaware of anything, I stumbled into a trashcan, falling to the ground. The world spun, and my head pounded unbearably. I had to get away. No one could know that I was there, that I had let Todd die.

I swigged the Whiskey, savoring the burning in my throat. I ran, to escape the knowledge behind.

Again, I stumbled, and with a sob, I twisted open the lid on the Vikiden. I needed to forget, right now. I needed to become lost in my own haze. I emptied the bottle into my waiting hand, and then, into my waiting mouth. I nearly gagged as over a dozen pills made their way down my throat.

With a sigh, I leaned back against the alley wall. Things were okay. So Todd was dead. He wasn’t that important anyways. All that mattered was this wonderful high. All that mattered was the alcohol in my hand. All that mattered…