Jacob

The phone rings. He picks up.

“Dog, I want to do it,” screams Jacob through the telephone line.

“Shit.” He responds.

Jacob’s demons during this time of his life are drugs. Heroin to be exact.

The needle is prep, the rubber band tied, the veins popping, he’s close.

“Wait, wait, wait. Talk to me.” “Tell me what’s wrong.” “Don’t stop talking.”

“I don’t know man! My fucking bitch! She’s at it again. All I want to do is have sex, and she’s worried about the fucking planet dying.”

“Focus, focus, focus!,” He screams. Jacob is in a trailer park, located who knows where, but at least we have an idea. The other fellow though, God only knows where he’s at.

“Okay, keep talking. Your girl is pushing you, what else is in your mind.”

“I don’t know man! I don’t fucking know.” Jacob sobs, his hand is now occupied by the needle, tears streaming down his face.

“How long have you been cleaned?”

“Like a month, maybe two.” Jacob searches for answers.

“Where’s your sponsor?” He asks, not knowing what the right thing he should do, or say. Knowing only what he knows, that we all need release.

“I don’t have one.”

“Shit! You need one man.”

“I fucking knooow.” Hysterics.

“Listen man, put the needle down!” He calmly tells Jacob, somehow knowing that the needle is now centimeters away from breaking skin.

Jacob listens.

“God, I need you, man. Where are you, can I just come over, I don’t want to be alone.”

“I can’t tell you man,” He answers. “I’m living in hiding.”

“What the fuck, man!” Jacob’s feelings can’t be explained through words.

“I know, I know. Listen and listen to me carefully! Throw away the heroin, stay away from your girl, and go jack off 3 times.”

“Jack off?!” Jacob can’t believe this is the fucking advice he is getting.

“Jack off, man! Just do it.”

“Jack off!!!” Jacob screams, as his eyes are dead set on the heroin right in front of him.

“JACK FUCKING OFF.”

“Call me back when you’re done.”