A short story on drugs and the Devil

A Friend of the Devil is a Friend of Mine
I made a deal with the Devil at the age of 15 in an alleyway somewhere between the school yard and the trailer in Lot 34 I called home. He told me that for the rest of my lunch money I could experience life in a whole new way. From acid to the white powder he called nose candy; my choices of “getting high” were endless. I settled on a pouch full of what looked like small icicles. The name of the drug was meth but the Devil called it Crystal. Crystal happened to be the name of a girl who I’d loved since I could remember. I knew she could make me feel like no one else, so I trusted that snorting these clear rocks would do the same, and for the next 15 years of my life, it did.
True to his promise, whenever there was Crystal, there was also the Devil. All through the rest of high school, he lurked in the shadows of my room as I took hit after hit before my first class. As soon as I was able to hold a job, he studied me in the mirror before work, examining my blood-shot eyes, rotting teeth, and sunken skin convincing me no one would notice. The day I realized I’d lost all my friends and family except for Crystal, the Devil watched me prepare for a suicidal high. Three days later I finally crashed. Another week went by before I woke up to find myself in a hospital bed, the Devil sound asleep beside me. I searched around the room and notice the date. It was June 22nd. I had slept right through my 30th birthday. Before I do anything else, a swarm of doctors, police officers, and counselors flooded through the door.
I was told as soon as I was stable I would be going to jail. For how long I didn’t know, but at this point in my life, anything would be better than what I had been doing. The last of my money had gone to crystal, and I wasn’t getting more anytime soon considering I had lost my job the week before. The only person left who would even talk to me was the Devil and jail might supply me with someone a bit more livelily.
The next two days were hell. I craved Crystal more than ever. My body ached for it, shook for it, and finally went totally numb when it wasn’t supplied. The Devil just sat in the corner flipping through magazines occasionally glancing up at me. He knew all too well this would happen to me sooner or later.
That night I could barely sleep and as soon as the sun peaked over the horizon, I was escorted out of my hospital bed and into my cell in the California Institute for Men right here in Chino. The Devil acted uneasy and weak as the officer escorted us to my cell. As soon as my door was latched tightly, the Devil collapsed on my bed. He looked more morbid than ever before. I said nothing and instead took the opportunity to take note of my room. I noticed the dingy, tin mirror on the back wall and walked over to see myself, in hopes that I might have changed. I thought it was odd that I couldn’t feel the Devil’s heat or his breath on my neck letting me know he was right behind me, as I approached the mirror. When I took my first glance, I didn’t believe what I saw. I had to turn around to see if it was true. After a solid minute of searching my cell high and low I was ready to accept the fact; the Devil was gone! I made my way back to the mirror and took a long, hard look at myself. Something I hadn’t done in over 15 years. It was then, I knew. Since that fateful day in the alleyway, it had only ever been Crystal and I. There had never been a Devil. The only Devil, was me.

very true. we had to listen to the song n jus write a paper on something to do w/ the devil. it was short but sweet i guess im glad you commented on it! i feel very welcomed to your site now! lol

Here is how the dead wrote it!

I lit out from Reno, I was trailed by twenty hounds
Didn't get to sleep last night 'till the morning came around.

Set out runnin' but I take my time
A friend of the devil is a friend of mine
If I get home before daylight, I just might get some sleep tonight.

Ran into the devil, babe, he loaned me twenty bills
I spent the night in Utah in a cave up in the hills.

Set out runnin' but I take my time, a friend of the devil is a friend of mine,
If I get home before daylight, I just might get some sleep tonight.

I ran down to the levee but the devil caught me there
He took my twenty dollar bill and vanished in the air.

Set out runnin' but I take my time
A friend of the devil is a friend of mine
If I get home before daylight, I just might get some sleep tonight.

Got two reasons why I cry away each lonely night,
The first one's named Sweet Anne Marie, and she's my hearts delight.
The second one is prison, babe, the sheriff's on my trail,
And if he catches up with me, I'll spend my life in jail.

Got a wife in Chino, babe, and one in Cherokee
The first one says she's got my child, but it don't look like me.

Set out runnin' but I take my time,
A friend of the devil is a friend of mine,
If I get home before daylight, I just might get some sleep tonight.

Got two reasons why I cry away each lonely night,
The first one's named Sweet Anne Marie, and she's my hearts delight.
The second one is prison, babe, the sheriff's on my trail,
And if he catches up with me, I'll spend my life in jail.

Got a wife in Chino, babe, and one in Cherokee
The first one says she's got my child, but it don't look like me.

Set out runnin' but I take my time,
A friend of the devil is a friend of mine,
If I get home before daylight, I just might get some sleep tonight

Good job on the story Emily!

Thanks fjt!