The Heroin Addict

circa 2008
 
Her name was Leah and she looked like the
actress Laurie Holden in  “The Majestic,” with her
blond hair, blue eyed movie actress looks.
 
She lived in the condos by the Crystal Springs Resort
Mount Vernon Skiing area.  She told me she only drank
on the weekends as she sipped her Sake rice wine that
Wednesday evening.
 
Outside the wintry snowy night was a young man
shoveling, looking up at the sky,  then talking to himself
and some other invisible person and clearly mentally
unstable,  high, or both.
 
I warned her about this guy,  and as we came back from
her cigarette run,  she invited the young man into
the her apartment, that she only lived in on the weekend.
During the week, she worked in Long Island, selling
mortgages and living with her parents.
 
The young man shared how he hated his father
for throwing him out of the house….and then in the
middle of sentences, would stop talking and fall asleep.
Leah clapped her hands to wake up the young man.
I had never seen a heroin junkie before.
I could not help myself but stare at this young man.
 
Smack, Snow,  Skunk,  Sack,  White,  Heroin.
 
She told the young man that God loved him, and he had
value, and that he could get help.  She also told him
she worked in Long Island during the week, and all I
could think was she just invited this guy to break into
her place during the week to rob her condo.
 
Boy, He, White,  White Nurse, White Boy,  White Lady.
 
He stared at me with hurt and hatred in his eyes
pointed his finger at me and said, “How dare you
judge me former Preacher Man!  What gives
you the right to judge me?”
 
I apologize -  I am intrigued watching you – I have
never seen a person in the flesh falling asleep in the middle
of sentences before.  I only wish the best for you and hope
you find peace and recovery.
 
How did Leah know so much about heroin addiction?
Her ex-husband was the youngest federal judge ever
appointed to the bench, but went to jail for
having connections to the mob.
 
Her daughter was a cutter.
Her son was in jail for using heroin.
Leah also seemed to be struggling with alcohol
and setting boundaries with junkies.
 
It was the last time I spent with  Leah.
Chasing the Dragon is a losing proposition.
One cannot fly with broken wings.