Note: This is actually a true story. Everyone involved was 18 or older.
*****
I am enveloped in darkness. I can hear my friends, and some others, on the floor, and by the door, and on the ceiling. They are speaking loudly, and giggling maniacally, but my mind can't piece together exactly what they are saying. The light comes on, and I squint, feeling blinded. My friend turns to me, and I am struck by his dilated pupils and glossy eyes. He says something to me, but it takes a few seconds for it to sink in completely.
'Light bulbs are the sun's nipples.'
I ponder this. My brain goes over reality, what I know. I realize that the universe that I have grown accustomed to may be wrong, and I cannot tell what is true and what isn't in my drug addled state. Suddenly, the door bursts open, and four or five men walk in. Introductions are made, in French, but I am much too far gone to remember any of my French. The door closes, and it looks infinitely far away. One of the men walks to me, a trail of brown leading out behind him. I shake my head, trying to clear it.
'What's good man? It's Rafael.'
I stare blankly at him, he laughs and moves on. The men set up their hookah, and begin preparations. Loud angry French hip hop is being played. Demons creep into my mind, and I begin to panic. I tug the door open and run from the shack I have been in for the past three hours. The outside is cold and bitter. There is sleet coming down. My friend quickly follows me, asking where I'm going. I make some vague statement about having to bounce. He goes back inside to say peace to the others, and then follows me outside. I am so fucked at this point, that I forget that I have nowhere to go. I walk down the block, the lights changing colors and fading in and out of focus. My friend is attempting to talk to me, but I have nothing to say. I tell him that I have to sleep, I have to go home. He consents, and says that he will go home as well.
I begin the walk down Pape Street, people staring at me. I must be quite obvious. I can't tell how long I've been tripping, but it feels like hours. I look up, and see The Danforth lights in the distance, but have to look down quickly again, terrified. I try to comfort myself, tell myself that I am fine, that I am almost home, but forming sentences is difficult, even in my mind. I remember that I can't go home, my mother is there, and I am no state to talk to her. Panic sets in. I weigh my options, knowing that I can't stay outside either. I decide on the park.
Upon arriving, I immediately see a girl on the swings, and am struck by her. There is something about her that is alluring, but I can't quite tell, especially in my mindset. All I know is that I want to talk to her. I approach the swings, looking at her. I stop about five feet away. She is wearing a metric fuck ton of eyeliner, and it's clear that she's been crying. Her black hair is frazzled and tangled, and she has the air of someone who has just run from something. She just notices me, and starts. I realize that I am staring, and since she is a teenage girl alone in a park at 1 AM, and I am looking a little like a schizophrenic homeless boy, this is probably not the best first impression. I smile at her, trying to make her feel more comfortable. This has a noticeably unsettling effect on her. I ask her if she's okay. She continues to stare. I go and sit on the swing next to her.
'It's Sean. What's your name?'
She looks down, almost resigning to me.
'I'm Caira.'
I nod, and look at the ground as well. I think of something to say.
'Is something wrong?'
'Something is always wrong. Sorry, that sounded bitchy. What I meant was, don't worry about it. I'm fine.'
'You don't look fine. Sorry, I don't mean to pry, it's just that you looked sad, and I don't like seeing pretty girls being sad.'
She jerks her head up at this, and glares at me.