Gateway Drug

*Authors Note: This is a creative piece I wrote based off a sentence I chose from the whiteboard, turned into a short story.*
 

        David froze, checking his pockets. Where was the money?

“You said you would have it, Dave. I’ve covered for you one too many times.” scolded Louis, David’s dealer. “If you don’t have money, you don’t get OC.”

“I know the rules, just one more chance. I need this stuff, it’s the only thing that can keep me sane now a days.” muttered David.

He wasn’t lying, David was addicted, if he didn’t get his daily dose of Oxy Cotton, his mind would go crazy. The problem with this though, he never had the money to pay. His boss at the auto shop downtown laid him off.  Said he wasn’t normal and needed to get help. Dave didn’t need help; even the thought of it makes him snicker.

“Want to share with me what’s so funny, I thought you said you really needed this, and now you’re laughing? Get a job, and when you get enough cash, you can hit me up again.”

            David grimaced, Louis didn’t understand. No one seems to understand him anymore. Person after person keeps telling him the way he has been acting lately isn’t who he is, but it is. This is the man he has become.

“Listen bro, I promise, I will have the money by tomorrow. Just, please. I need this,” his voice lowered to a whisper. “I’ll do anything,”

“No, you won’t. I’ve helped you out with this way too many times, and it seems this situation is coming more and more frequently. I’m done.”
            Louis turned on his heel, starting to walk away, but David was getting his gateway drug, whether Louis liked it or not. David ran straight forward towards him, grabbed the bag from Louis’ back pocket. Turning away, sprinting as fast as he could, he tripped over a rock. Yes, a small stone.

            Louis trampled over to him, grinning. “I told you, you should tie your shoe laces man. Get your head put on straight.”
            Maybe I will, David thought.