Ghosts of the past
When I had met my wife, I was living with a room mate - Tony. Angel would stay over at my place often and eventually found out a few secrets about Tony’s personal life that I was not aware of. Specifically, his heavy drug use. I was in denial at first, but she lead me to where he kept his stash and explained what some of the things were used for. She even went so far as to explain to me that one of his so-called “friends” was actually his dealer.
My world was turned upside down. I had gone through some tough experiences back in college where friends have died from this addiction. I did not want to go through the hardship and pain of this again.
I sat down with Angels mother and discussed ways that I could get out. We took a look at all of my finances and figured out how much money I had left to spare. It was possible that I could actually afford a mortgage, and she knew the rite people that I should contact who could handle my bad credit.
Shortly there after, my room mate had over dosed. His “friend” had called me from the hospital asking me if I know how to get in touch with Tony’s parents. I remember feeling weak and worn out just laying down in my bed. What can you do in a situation like this? I had emotionally cut off any bond that I had with Tony at this point. Call me heartless if you will.
About a year after I had purchased my house and moved out, I got wind through the grape vine that Tony had died. I got a little depressed about it over the next few days. I heard stories about things that had happened to him after I had left. One was about him sleeping at the place where he worked.
These kinds of rumors beat me up with guilt. I was thinking that I could have made a difference. I began wondering if I played a part into his demise. I didn’t just run out on him with the rent. He had assured me that he was getting an apartment with the same “friend” of his who had called me that uneventful night and we had left on solid ground.
I got over it and realized that he was bound to go down this road with or without me as a room mate. He had already made a choice and he wasn’t going to deter from his lifestyle.
Although there is a bad ending to this story, I’m going to turn it around and give you two good endings.
Today, Angel and I are married. We have a good life and privacy within our own home. A lot of good things have come to us because of my escape from Tony’s lifestyle. If it were not for Angel and her mother, I would have had to go through more pain living with Tony until his final days. I wouldn’t have a house, and I probably wouldn’t have been married to Angel until after Tony had died.
Tony’s “friend” is also better these days. The last I heard, he had cleaned up his act and joined a program. He has a better job and takes better care of himself.