I've seen a rich man beg
I've seen a good man sin
I've seen a tough man cry
I've seen a loser win
And a sad man grin
I heard an honest man lie
I've seen the good side of bad
And the downside of up
And everything between
I licked the silver spoon
Drank from the golden cup
And smoked the finest green
I stroked the fattest dimes at least a couple of times
Before I broke their heart
You know where it ends, yo', it usually depends on where you start
Last chapter. Writing this has been a nice mood lifter. Super special thanks to Steam Detective and Paladin Dragon for reviewing the last chapter. Also. Doubtless, in a few days, 'Ready' will go off the first page. So if you haven't read it, it would be nice if you did. No pressure. And if you have some time, please find someone who would be interested to read and review these. I can't write on pure adrenaline. I need some reviews.
What It's Like
Chapter Three
I knew this kid named Max
Who used to get fat stacks out on the corner with drugs
He liked to hang out late
He liked to get shit-faced and keep the pace with thugs
Until late one night there was a big old fight and Max lost his head
He pulled out his chrome .45, talked some shit and wound up dead
Now his wife and his kids are caught in the midst of all of this pain
You know it comes that way
At least that's what they say when you play the game
God forbid you ever had to wake up to hear the news
'Cause then you really might know what it's like to have to lose
Jamie's head was spinning. His vision was blurry. We tripped several times up the stairs. He made it to the red door and fiddled with the knob. When it wouldn't open he began to bang on the door, chipping more paint off. Finally, the lock clicked open and the door swung inside. Jamie collapsed onto his wife. Pierce could smell the alcohol on his breath. She supported him to the couch and let him collapse onto the cushions. Then she stepped outside the doorway and looked into the hall. Several neighbors had peeked out to see what was causing the noise at this ungodly hour. Pierce shut the door as quietly as possible and locked it. She turned around and heard the children crying. She sighed and went into the bedroom. She bent over and reached her hands into the crib to pick them up and comfort them. Ten minutes later, she laid them back down. Then she prepared to climb back into her sleeping bag on the floor. The apartment had only one bedroom so she slept with the children. Jamie would sleep on the couch in the living room. As she got in, she heard Jamie's voice coming from the living room.
"C'mere!" He almost shouted. Pierce walked into the room exhaustingly. "Wh- what time is it?" he demanded, his voice quivering from the alcohol. Pierce knew there was a clock right in front of him, but he was probably too drunk to tell.
"It's four thirty."
Silence. Pierce turned around to return to the bedroom.
"Hang on. I-I need you to help me get something." Pierce sighed again and went back. Jamie instructed her to reach into his pocket and pull out the orange pill container. Pierce stalled for a moment. Then she made up he rmind.
"No."
"Huh?"
"I said no."
Jamie unsteadily got up. He maintained his balance to face her.
"What the hell is wrong with you? I told you to get them!" he screamed at her. Pierce could hear the children waking up again.
"Shh..."
"Don't tell me what to do!" Jamie slammed his fist into his wife's face. She fell over onto the ground. He kicked out at her. Pierce began to weep. Without a further word, Jamie went to the door and managed to unlock it. He opened it, walked out, and slammed it shut. He didn't need this, he told himself. He leaned against the wall and fumbled around in his pocket. He managed to get the pills out. He popped open the container and dumped the entire contents into his hand. Several capsules spilled over. As quickly as he good, he popped the half-handful into his mouth and swallowed them. He leaned against the wall for a few more minutes. Finally, they kicked in. He could feel his head clear of alcohol and started feeling very energetic. There were still a few hours left of the night. He'd fins something to do. He walked away.
Back inside, Pierce had gotten up. She put an icepack over the entire left side of her face and returned to her room. This wasn't the first time he had hit her. There was a clothes drawer in the corner. On top of it was a picture. It showed Pierce and Jamie holding hands on their wedding night. They had been married for seven months. He was only twenty now. They had gotten married because there wasn't any other choice, after Pierce had gotten pregnant. But they really did love each other. She recalled how much he had cared for her back then. She had cared for him too. And she still did. Despite the beatings, the drug addictions, the gang involvement she still loved him. Because this wasn't him. She hated this, but she knew this wasn't Jamie so she put up with it. Jamie had always wanted to fit in. He wanted to join the crowd. Two months after the wedding he had become a part of a local street gang. Then he began messing around his drugs and alcohol. All this to fit in. Just to be cool. She had thought about getting help, but she didn't want to. This... man embarrassed her. He hurt her, but she could live with that. It was the shame that was killed her. But she knew that this wasn't the real Jamie. It would pass and they could live happily ever after. She only thanked God that his former team mates didn't know. They were all living normal lives right now.
Jamie walked down the street. The rain wasn't pouring but was still drizzling. His brain was still buzzing from the pills, but he could still think. Just barely, but enough... when he wasn't doing drugs, life seemed to lose all purpose. He needed them. He- 'Get a grip on yourself Jamie!' he thought. 'Look at yourself!' On the other hand what was so wrong about it? No. He had to back out. From all of it. Enough was enough. After tonight he would stop. Stop everything. Just after tonight.
Jamie turned into an alley where about a dozen other figures were standing and leaning against the walls.
"What's up?" he asked. A tall, lean young man walked up to him.
"There's gonna be a fight in ten minutes. You in?"
Jamie considered the promise he had made to himself. Then he remembered that he had already decided to keep on for just tonight.
"Yeah. Yeah, I'm in." In a few minutes, the gang walked out of the alley and down the street. Eventually the came to an old playground, they went out onto the black top and waited. Another gang showed up after several minutes. The two leaders stepped forward. After a brief discussion they stepped back. The tall, lean man gave the group a signal. Knives and guns were drawn. Jamie pulled a handgun from another one of his pockets. The fight started abruptly. Jamie quickly fired at the other group. He smiled to himself as a younger member from the other side went down. He didn't look any older than fifteen. The man next to him turned and with a look of horror stared at his fallen comrade. He knelt down and examined the bullet wound. Slowly he rose up and glared at Jamie. Jamie smiled and began to taunt him. Without warning the man pulled out his own gun and shot three times at Jamie. Jamie felt each bullet bury itself inside him. He crumpled onto the ground.
The man was already over next to Jamie. He pulled out a knife. Struggling with the pain Jamie tilted his head up to study the instrument. He felt it being run through his leg and then again in his arm. Each time, the blood- stained blade plunged, Jamie screamed. He had wanted to quit. This time the blade was run ripped through his other leg. He shouldn't have come. He saw the knife being raised over his neck. This was the price he paid. For trying to be something he wasn't. His thoughts turned to Pierce. What would she do when she saw the report of his death? He had wanted to back out. He really had. But he couldn't.
Then you really might know what it's like
Then you really might know what it's like
Then you really might know what it's like to have to lose
Author's notes: I'm gonna have to take a look at this tomorrow. I may rewrite this. Or change some things. Right now I can't change it though. So i'll put it up as it is. Anyway. So did you notice that each chapter ended with 'He couldn't' or 'She couldn't' that was pretty pointless. But it kind of tied the stories together. Whatever works.