MY LIFE IN PIECES

SCENE 1

As she was standing in the hallway watching them fight again, tear drops rolled down her cheeks. She wished that she had superpowers, so she could go buy that “thing” and give it to daddy and life would be peaceful again. Even though she didn’t know what that “thing” was, she knew it made him feel good and calm again. “so why wouldn’t mom let him go get it?” She thought. A moment later, there was a broken jar of jam on the floor and with a slamming of the door, he was gone. The seven-year old girl was heartbroken with a scene of Mom sobbing and trying to clean up the mess on the floor. She walked towards her as she was wiping tears off her little face and said “Mom, I am sorry you are so sad.” Mom yelled “Stop crying and Leave me alone.” The little girl spent the rest of the night in her room sobbing quietly.

SCENE 2

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Another year had passed. It was her birthday again. That meant balloons, cake, candles, sweet treats, friends and happiness. The party started but there was one thing missing. Her dad left home hours before the party started to go grocery shopping, but he wasn’t back yet. She could hear her mom mumbling something with an angry voice as she was walking around the house. She was trying to pretend that she was enjoying the party so her guests wouldn’t find out. Finally, daddy came home. The little girl ran towards him. “Dad you are home. It’s my Birthday. The party started.” she said, but as soon as she looked up to see his face, she knew he did it again. Yes, he was high again. Her heart started racing. It felt like it was going to jump out of her tiny chest. She whispered “No. No. Please! not on my birthday. Please! “ It was too late. He could barely open his eyes to see his little daughter’s face. He could barely walk, sit up straight or hold his head up. He was high. He was high AGAIN. The whole night the little girl tried to hide the shame she felt in front of her friends. All the guests were looking at him like he is some kind of a monster, making fun of him, laughing at him but in her heart, she knew her dad was a kind, loving man who was possessed by something powerful called “DRUGS” which was taking control of his life, his dignity and his pride.

SCENE 3

It was a beautiful sunny day. “Get ready! Me and you are going out for an ice cream.”Daddy said. She was so excited to have a day with her dad. They got in the car. Dad said he had to stop somewhere before getting ice cream. She nodded. A few minutes later they stopped by an old house in a strange neighborhood. They got out. Knocked. A man appeared at the door inviting them in. Daddy said he was his friend. “Stay in the front yard. I have to do something. I ‘ll Be back in a second.” he said. She nodded and sat down by the stairs waiting. It seemed like an hour passed and dad wasn’t back, she got worried and decided to go inside to see if everything was ok. She opened the door. Daddy was sitting on the ground smoking something strange. There was a nauseating, awful smell in the room. She got closer. Dad was holding a piece of an aluminum foil with something bubbling and smoking inside and he had something like a small tube in his mouth. The scene of dad trying to get high like that was too difficult to bear. It was just too difficult for a young child to understand. She was confused and terrified since he wasn’t responding well. She kept calling “Daddy! Daddy! Can we go? Daddy! I want to go home.” Finally, He lifted his head half way up, trying to open his eyes and slurred in a strange voice: “just give me a few seconds. I will buy you ice cream. I promise.” The eight-year old girl suddenly felt a big lump in her throat choking her. Tears started running down her cheeks. She could hear the sound of her little heart breaking into pieces. Her soul was in pain. Ice cream was the last thing in her mind at that moment. She didn’t know what was happening, but she knew one thing for sure. That meant trouble. That meant lots of yelling and screaming in the house later. That meant a big fight awaits them at home. She knew she had to keep quiet about this. She knew she had to bury this truth with her. She knew when mom interrogates her later, she had to smile and lie so beautifully like nothing happened. Finally, they were out of that horrible old house. Daddy got her ice cream after all, but that sweet ice cream tasted more bitter than poison that day.

For years, she was wondering what that strange substance was. What was the name of the monster that took her dad away from his family? What was the name of that evil residing in her dad’s soul? What was the name of the enemy that killed her family’s joy and stole their happiness forever? What was the name of the evil that left her heart-broken and wounded for the rest of her life? What was the name of the devil who stole her childhood from her?

And “HEROINE” was the name.

“Drug addiction is like a fire that burns and destroys everything around it. Do not ignite that fire.”

“Once you start using Drugs, he becomes your Master. You become his Slave. Don’t lose your power.” Roshi R Kalesi