It’s late at night and my girl texts me asking, “If I want to go to church with her in the morning.” I put my phone down and change my clothes as I’m watching Impractical Jokers on television. I really don’t know how to respond to that because I had a long day and I don’t want to wake up early in the morning. I look at my phone again and it’s just a reminder telling me someone texted me and it’s the same message. “Do I want to go in the morning?” I ask myself. I guess so, why not?

The next morning, it’s 8:40 am, I put on my off red long sleeve shirt because it’s a bit cold outside with some brown joggers and sperrys. I just wanted to dress casual but not too much. A bit fancy but not too much to look like I tried hard. I look in the mirror and noticed I still have crust in my eyes and I don’t even care, I just want to go out. Yesterday afternoon I got a fresh haircut so I’m definitely feeling good to show it off today. I don’t have a car so I’m patiently waiting for my girlfriend to tell me she’s outside. I go back in the mirror because I like looking at myself so I spend the time doing that and within ten minutes I get a text saying that she’s outside.

“How was your night last night?” Rachel asks me. “It was great..till the alarm woke me up.” I respond. I don’t really say much because I’m tired and just want to get this over with. From where I live and the church is about 25 minutes, the car ride was kind of dragging, so I just played music to subside the awkwardness between us. She starts parking and I noticed she’s trying to park backwards. “You think you’re cool because you parked like that?” I say sarcastically as I approach the driver side. “Haha very funny.” she says laughing as if she’s about to choke. We head to the church and we sit near the front. It’s a spanish church so there’s hella people and it’s extremely loud. I wouldn’t mind making this my primary church because the church I go to with my mom is very…boring. There is nothing bedazzling about it. But this spanish church has all the fundamentals a great church needs. Loud music, people involved and dancing. There’s so much great energy here, I’ve been here before last year but each time I come it gets bigger and bigger. Even though I have no idea what the hell these people are saying or the meaning, I do feel comfortable at this church because of how close they seem, I don’t feel out of place at all. The lights turn on and as everybody starts getting comfortable in their seats, my girlfriend brings to my attention to look at the guy in the orange shirt. I look around in front of me and see a guy in that color. “No, not him the guy across from you.” she says. I’m sitting at the edge of the row and I slowly turn to the side of me and look at a guy with an orange button up shirt with black boots. “His name is Tom, well that’s his alias name. I don’t really know his real name to be honest.” she says. “So what’s the point of me looking at him in the first place?” I respond with attitude. “Tom is a Drug Lord.”

I stare at him for a couple moments and realize that she may be telling me the truth. He has a rolex on and some nice fancy jeans and his hair is neatly comb and his face…his face tells it all. He looks extremely arrogant. “He’s been in the business practically all his life, got caught a few times but he still manages to find his way.” she includes. I don’t know why I keep looking at him but something about him, intrigues me. I don’t understand how people can be inside the business of drugs. You know eventually you’re going to get caught regardless, so why even waste time to try? Everybody knows that saying, “Whatever is done in the dark will come to light.” During the rest of the ceremony, that was basically an hour and thirty minutes, my whole attention was focused on him being who he she says he is. I want to find out more about this Tom guy.

My name is Ziggy and this is the story of how Drugs became in me.