The 4.30pm London to Berkamhead, Return (Chapter Four: Ring a Ring of Roses)

London 1996

A month had passed after that sorry little affair with Mr Matthew Reynolds (deceased) and Mr Tony Rence. I was held for another fifteen hours before finally being released without charge, when the results on the blood stained proved that it had been my own. I haven’t ventured back to Migration since; in fact, there has been a lot I’ve learned to forget about that night. If only I could have got those Polaroids back, but to spare myself any further humiliation, I’d left Tony and his wanking material well alone.
I’d had a relatively quiet month since; keeping a low (and clean) profile and focusing on my work. There were still loads of parties and networking events to attend, but with a new wave of liggers I was able to blend nicely into the background. Of course, I’d still try and ponce as many drugs as I could, but hadn’t gone to the excesses of the month before. Was I really starting to face up to my addiction, or were the persistent headaches and the more than frequent nosebleeds starting to take their toll?

………..

“Juliet, oh Juliet”, it was Miria, summoning me life a sixteenth century matron. I thought I had better respond before she said it again and set one of my headaches off.
“What babe?”
“Juliet, I must speak with you before I leave this night”. Miria’s English was broken and imperfect, but her tone was always charming and beautiful, giving elegance to what was becoming a lifeless language.
“What now babe? I was kind of getting ready to go out. If it’s about the washing up, then I’ll do it tomorrow”.
“No Juliet, I must speak with you now, it is important. Please, let us sit in the lounge and talk”. She seemed to float through from the kitchen, taking my hand and guiding us over to the settee.
“Now you’ve got me worried Miria. You’re not in trouble are you?”
“No Juliet, there is no easy way. Please”, she paused.
“No easy way of what Miria?”
“I’m in love, Juliet, in love with a man who wants me as his bride”, she smiled. I hugged her, what a fuss for nothing. I couldn’t have felt happier for my best friend.
“That’s fantastic. I feel so happy, you really deserve it”, I grinned broadly, even though her mood seemed to be darkening.
“That is not the problem Juliet. I need you to move out of the flat, so that Dominic can move in”.

Now where are your friends Juliet? I said no one liked you Juliet. Even Miria

“Fuck you!” Miria turned away, tears quickly filling her eyes. “No Miria, not you, I mean, not fuck you, it was meant for...”
“I’m sorry that it is this way Juliet. I wished you could be happy for me, but I see now. You have three days”. She was up in a flash and went towards the door.

She hates you even more now Juliet. Ha Ha

“Stop it” I screeched as a piercing throb shot across my brow, so much so I grabbed the side of my head. Miria turned, looking bewildered and a little frightened at my sudden outburst.
“Are you ok Juliet?”
“Yeah, I’m fine, seriously. I just gotta have a line and a drink. I’m pleased, I am, I’m happy”. I was on my hands and knees searching for my stash, “I gotta get to a party soon, it’ll do me good. I’ll see you later ok”.
“Ok Juliet” and she left quickly. At least I think she did; I was too busy with my flip lid vanity mirror and credit card cutting out a couple lines of charlie.

………………

I hadn’t given my imminent homeless a second thought as I rolled up into North Waller Street and the door of number thirty seven. No what ifs, buts or maybes, tonight I was as free as a bird and I intended to make the most of it. Since snacking on the rest of my stash, I’d necked a couple of pills I grabbed off a young lad on a street corner on my way. I was dressed for, and made up for, fun and I intended to have it regardless what anyone said or thought. Tony was here, already spinning to a healthy crowd in the owner’s lounge, which had become the main room for those in the groove. I grabbed a glass and nodded Tony’s acquaintance in passing. There was no need to go pick up on the past when I had already picked out my future.
“Juliet, this is Jay”
I nodded and smiled. He was tall; about six five I reckoned, and had beautiful dark skin that seemed to glisten in the heat and low light. He had to be mine, so I quickly encouraged him up the stairs to the first spare bedroom we could find. We started slow, a couple of lines of charlie, followed by the most harmonious foreplay session I’d had in years. Then he made love to me, grinding his more than ample cock deep into me. I willed him on further, wanting more. Our positions changed; I wanted everything he could give me and he did, without inhibition. Then it got darker, my tongue following the curves of his body to places never met before.
And here we were now; he was stroking my forearm as I lay across his chest. After what seemed a lifetime, he beckoned me up. I obliged and he got out of bed, returning moments later with a small bedside mirror. My eyes rolled back into my head as I took big lines of coke and then two more. We both smiled wildly; he gestured to my nose which was still ‘powdered’.
Suddenly he shifted uncomfortably to one side. I looked quizzically, but before I even had a chance to ask, I felt the first drops of blood on my chest. “Ah, Jesus”, he leapt up and scrambled up for his trousers.
“No wait”, I ran my hand across my nose and felt the sharp sting. It was starting to gush and had quickly soaked the sheet below. Throwing myself out of the bed, I moved towards the door. He was going to leave if I didn’t explain. I opened my mouth and tried to speak, but instead tasted blood, which automatically made me urge

Ring a ring a roses, a pocket full of posies, a-tissue, a-tissue, they all fall down

“No!” I grabbed at my head as the pain seared across me, falling to my knees as I felt a sharp pain in my chest. Why was it hurting so much? I wanted to cry but was sick again. Please stop bleeding. My head stung again, this time I closed my eyes. I gargled and choked a ‘help me’, but wasn’t sure that anyone heard.
“Help me!”

Help Me!