2014 Prompt Responses - 35. Prompt 368

“You’ll get it back over my dead body!”

“Fine!” Will yelled and tackled me. We fell to the living room floor. I grunted as he landed on top of me, even though he didn’t weigh all that much anymore.

I clutched the baggie of meth in my hand and held it above my head in an attempt to keep it away from Will. He tried to climb up me to grab it and I threw it across the room so I could use both my hands to try and contain the ball of fury that used to be my friend.

He leapt off me and lunged toward the meth, but I grabbed his leg, stopping him. He kicked furiously, landing a couple blows to my arms and ribs. I hissed with pain, but didn’t let go. He turned on me like a snake, raining blows on my chest and face. I threw my arms up to shield myself. He had a lot more power behind him than his looks suggested.

“Leave me alone!” he screamed as he pummeled me.

Somehow, I managed to push him off me and I dove for the baggie, grabbing it and running into the bathroom, Will in hot pursuit. I shoved him back, threw the baggie in the toilet, and flushed.

From the cry of anguish that escaped his lips, you would have thought I flushed his cat.

“You son of a bitch! Do you know how much that shit cost? What the fuck, asshole? Why are you even here?” He tried to hit me again, but I grabbed his arms, pushing him out the door and into his bedroom. I threw him down on the bed, straddling him. He bucked and flailed like a fish out of water, screaming obscenities and calling me every hateful name he could think of. I rode it out until he stopped fighting and started sobbing. I let go of his arms and sat back. He tried to hit me again, but he had used up all the strength his drug-ravaged body contained.

“Why are you doing this?” he sniffled.

“Because I care about you.”

He snorted derisively. “Yeah, right. You made it perfectly clear you don’t want anything to do with me, Dave.”

“Why do you think I’m here?”

“I have no idea, but I really wish you’d leave so I can go out and get another hit. You just flushed the last of my stash.”

I shook my head. “You really don’t get it, do you?” I moved off him and sat next to him. I took his hand. He closed his eyes, refusing to look at me.

“Do you want to be an addict?”

“Who the hell wants this?”

“Then do something about it.”

“It’s too hard. Every time I try to go clean, I just end up relapsing.”

“You can’t do it alone. You need help.”

“What the hell would you know about it?

“My brother was an addict, too. He overdosed five years ago.” My voice hitched. “I couldn’t stand it if the same thing happened to you.”

He sat up, facing me. He reached his hand up to my face shakily, looking in my eyes. I blinked and a tear slowly trickled down my cheek. I looked into his hazel eyes and brushed his dirty blonde hair away from his forehead. I could see a trace of my friend struggling to break free.

“Help me, Dave. I don’t know what to do,” he whispered.

“I have a bed waiting for you at a rehab facility. They’re one of the best around. We can go right now.”

He embraced me tightly, running his hands along my back. “I’m so scared.”

I rested my cheek along the top of his head. “It’ll be ok. I’ll help you however I can.”

“I love you, Dave.”

“I know, Will, but I meant it when I said I won’t date you until you’re clean. This is the first step. I happen to think you’re worth waiting for.”

He cried softly into my chest. “You’re the only person that’s ever told me that I’m worth anything.” He looked up at me and I ran my hand along his cheek before leaning down and kissing him softly.

“You’re worth so much, Will.” I took his hand and led him toward the door. “Ready?”

He nodded. For the first time in two years, I had hope for the man I loved.