In My Desperate Time

I'm scared.

I'm so scared of the drug, but I'm more scared that Frances will get addicted to it.

If one of us must take it, then I'll be the one.

I take a deep breath and reach out to the bag of powder.

My entire body trembles involuntarily. I have foreseen how disgusting and desperate I will be.

But before my hand can touch it, Frances has clutched it. He smiles faintly and says, "Such a good opportunity, wouldn't it be a pity if I give it away?"

As he speaks, he opens it calmly.

"No! You can't do it!"

I shout inwardly over and over again, but no one can hear it.

"Good. I appreciate your bravery. It looks like Hilda has found a good husband."

Mike smiles and hands Frances a dollar bill.

Taking it over, Frances pours the powder onto it, and glowers at it.

a painful internal struggle

more and more

her elbow, "Frances,

A little?

her right in the

far from a little. It

addicted or not is no longer the issue here. He can die from

should I do? What

Frances, I become more and more

want this. But with my hands tied,

only sit here like an outsider even though my heart tells

I hate it.

I hate myself.

faster, the situation would be totally

does Frances

who I am right now. He

this deal to get solid evidence, then it will be too much of a

I don't want him to do

it is too

pours the powder on the bill and rolls it