My Devoted Friend... |
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Nick had always been around for me as long as I could remember, but I was fourteen when I was formally introdused to him. I was young, immature and not very popular. He was old, small-slender and very mysterious. He had many followers and was very popular. He did not discriminate against age, color, race or gender. He seemed to be everyone's friend.
As I began to know him and hang out in his crowd. I found myself craving his presence more and more. Pretty soon we were inseparable and I soon become very popular in his rhelm.
Some of my friends that were not in his gang did not like Nick nor approved of him. They tried to tell me he was bad but I just wouldn't hear it. How could he be so bad, when he made me feel so good? Even my parents and grandparents seemed to love him.
For years my love of Nick grew and he was always there whenever I needed or wanted him. He never put me down. He didn't care if I was pretty or smart or sad and moody. He never asked anything of me accept my devotion to him.
We played together, partied together, laughed together and cried together. He was there through my marriage and divorce, through the birth of my children and the death of my family members and friends. He was always there to pick me up when I was down. Who could ever ask for a better friend then that??
Then, one morning I reached for Nick and he was gone. I was frantic. My heart was racing, my head hurt, and my stomach notted. I felt very ancious and tears began to fall. I hurried to get dressed and headed out for a place where I knew Nick would be.
I approached the counter where Nick was. I would see his shinning red and white package with bold black lettering. My hand shook as I reached for him. clutching him as if he were gold. A feeling of giddy delight overwhelmed me. I had Nick again.
Practically running, I headed back to my car. I sat there amoment to catch my breath. Quickly I reached for Nick and pulled him close. I lit him and slowly inhaled his whitish grey smoke deep into my lungs, devouring all that I could of him. I felt dizzy and light headed. I sat there for a long moment starring at Nick as if really seeing him for the first time. I knew without a dought that I was truely hooked, like a junkie to herion.
The haunting voices of my long ago friends came rushing at me, as I remembered them saying Nick was bad. At the moment I knew that everything I heard about him was true. He was a killer disguised as a friend.
Nick is still very much a part of my life. It is not easy for us- we've been banned from just about every public place and even my own home. When people see us together they turn and walk away with a look of disgust- we hide like the common criminal.
The feeling I once had for Nick has changed. I hate him. I can't run or climb stairs without losing my wind and I caugh a lot. This is the price I have paid for his friendship.
He Who never asked anything of me... huh?
written by:
Christine Martin
Watsonville, California
Note: Since writing this, I have started on the Nicoderm Patches to try and end my relationship with my devoted friend Nick...
To find out more information on the effects of smoking, check out The Lung and cigarette smoking web page
