Leaning lazily on top of Harry, he wasn't sleeping but his eyes were closed. His long hair was brushed back away from his face, and his white skin had an eery glow in the artificial light beaming down from the overhead energy saving bulb.His naked chest beneath her, she snuggled deeply into him, resting her head on his shoulder so she could still see his face. They were so happy tonight, so so happy, it was a perfect night. Tomorrow morning would be bad, tomorrow night even worse, unless...
Marion lifted her hand into the air, and reached slowly for his face, like a pagan reaching for the sun, worshipping and adoring. She touched his hair, comforted by the silkiness. She ran her cold tingling fingers down his pale forehead, touching his cheek, and lips. She brushed the last traces of coke away from his nose, and breathed them in deeply.Smiling, she sank into what used to be sleep, and what is now freedom.
Each morning is torturous; as if sunlight came from the blazing fires of the underworld, it was a junkies hell. First thought: Where can I get some? second thought: Do we have the money? third thought: marion...? marion slept on, so oblivious of the cravings that he never wanted her to wake up. She was wearing his shirt, and her legs were bare and skinny and lightly tanned. The shirt arms were rolled up, and that deep purple mark was creeping down her left forearm. No matter how much he wanted to concentrate on that beautiful face, all he could see was the swollen veins, infected by bacteria and not closing anymore, that huge purple mark that got bigger everyday. Disgusted, he pushed the blanket up over her arm and got out of bed.
The morning headrush was a beautiful thing...no food for 2 days, the hunger went beyond food and drink, beyond love or money, and it was starting to seem like no amount of coke or weed could get rid of it either. Shower? no, what's the point, he wouldn't be leaving the house today, there was nobody to pick up from in the area. Breakfast? No,not hungry. TV? ah fuck, they cut the goddamn licence. Need to do something, feel so fidgety and sick. Go see Ma, she'd like that, could bring marion, we could all eat together.Is there anyone that lives that side of town? What about Ma's neighbours?Seen them doing some weed before, gotta head down there, just in case.
"Come back to bed."
Marion was waking up, stretching slowly, half smiling. She hadn't felt the kick yet, the need, the craving. Still so beautiful, perfect, his.
His eyes shot straight throught her, thoughts running rapidly, they must have some somewhere down there, they'll know someone "gotta go out."
"This early? where you going?" she sat up. Green confusion in her eyes. She was sober and stupid and irritating and her tone of voice made him anxious to leave.
"Out."
The front door slammed. He was gone, and she was alone, and neither of them were going to be getting any heroine today.