SUSPECT: My Drinking Buddies & Me

My name was Suspect and this is my story  

One day while spending time with my drinking buddies at our favourite hangout spot, I picked up the pack of cigarettes we were smoking and stared reflectively at the bold write up in front of it - "Smokers are liable to Die Young". 

Who were the cigarette company talking to? I silently asked myself and took of sip of the alcoholic beverage on my side of the table. I was stunned at how foolish I and my drinking buddies were to buy poison with our own money and ingest it into our systems. That day I promised my self never to smoke again. 

But then I lied, I didn't give it much thought afterwards, hence smoking continued. 

My buddies and I were just young adult trying to chop life and relish our youth. We were far from home and we lived a carefree life on campus and nothing could stand on our way, not even the coat wearing Papas and Mamas that often disturbed us with invites to their fellowships with judgemental preachings. 

I was small, fresh out of secondary school and was ready to explore the freedom that came with living away from my parents. Late night parties, tours to bars, sleepovers at my girlfriend's (vise versa), coming back home whenever I wanted felt good. Freedom is awesome ain't it?

I was in the frontline with the baddest guys on campus. I desperately needed to prove to them that I was a hard guy and belonged in their clique, so I consumed every pill, portion and blunt I was offered. Being a rapper also helped. We'd pop pills and go to the club to perform to the cheers of the crowd. Guys hailed us and babes loved us but deep down I knew something was amiss. 

One day I read the signs again "Smokers are liable to die Young" omo this time it made me think even deeper. Who buys poison with their own money? I thought to myself. That evening Sister Susan invited my roommate and I to the FCS All Night. It was a Friday, and Fridays are for clubbing, and clubbing are for big boys but I honoured her invitation and went. Luckily, some of my squad members came too and we sat together at the back. 

The special ministrations and performances were cool and if not that my Hardcore rap bars contained plenty vulgar, I'd would have submitted my name and showed them how real rappers drop bars not the "Life without Christ is crisis" cliche kind of rap one boy dropped for the Lord.

During praises, we danced like heaven, Kukere was trending then, we danced till we were all sweating. 

When it was time for the sermon, Brother Gideon ushered the guest Minister. The Pastor had swagger and flare and had good oratory skills. His sermon was on youthful exoberance. The preacher and addressed everyone most especially the campus bad guys. My buddies and I felt bad and sorry for our sins and we even went out surrendered our lives to Christ. We were prayed for. I felt refreshed and whole again. 

On our way back home from the Night Vigil, we branched our "Kalakuta"  and smoked fat wraps of weed and shared the bottle of gin Squiza brought in his bag. 

You think leaving addiction is that simple? 👀

Question: Share how you were able to fight (or fighting) addiction on the comment box. 

P.S: This story is a mixture of facts and lil fragments of fiction. This is for educational purpose only. 

© Samuel Thomas Jr. 

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