12 Comments
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Ral Joseph's avatar

"Protection is what we're here for"

Opionated protection Edward

Impactful and hopeful ones I guess. This was gorgeous my friend

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Edward Swafford's avatar

Thank you so much, dear Ral ^_^.

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Debdutta Pal's avatar

Loved every line. Especially - the lens lied. That one started the waterworks.

Artfully captured.

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Edward Swafford's avatar

Oh Debdutta, it was awfully sad to be there. Thank you for reading and respecting my words ^_^.

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Elizabeth Sobieski's avatar

This hurts, Edward.

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Edward Swafford's avatar

I've touched base with him since, he's still on a path to self-destruction. It's a familiar pattern with so many men hooked on this vile drug.

Thank you for reading, dear Elizabeth.

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Scarlet Ibis James's avatar

❤️ you, stonewalling me with decorum, a version of you was also here. Not the rosy-hued cheeks from count-to-three happy selfies, not that variant. No no no no no, the lens lied.

...I am ready.

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Edward Swafford's avatar

It was a sad night, albeit I confronted the stigma of +undetectable men in this instance. A fear I've carried for so long.

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williamphaynes/elliott's avatar

I am ancient now but way back in the seventies I became addicted to amphetamine. I only recall bits and pieces. The riot police surrounding the apt. after I threatened to blow someone's head off. The shotgun which Lee-anne hid and the cops leaving. The night they came to take me to the asylum. Two dudes dragging me outside and the ride to Hoch psychiatric hospital. Purple sunglasses and a tee-shirt in the frozen morn. I knew I was in big trouble so I clawed at mesh fencing separating me from the spanish speaking dude until we got to the hospital.

At the front desk I bolted racing down the hallways. I came to a hallway that lead outside. There was one guard and I just stared him down. I don't know if he was armed or not, I just knew I was going to get by him one way or another. He let me pass and I fled outside into the freezing cold. I was 20 miles from home in Suffolk county hitchhiking in a tee-shirt and purple sunglasses. I got a ride part-way and some kid took off his coat and gave me his shirt because he knew I was freezing. I walked the last part of the way back home. Mom welcomed me back home and I once again promised to go straight. I never did uppers again but did everything from opium to heroin. I stayed stoned or drunk until 95'.

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Edward Swafford's avatar

And you were only on amphetamine; imagine being hooked on methamphetamine. It's a much smaller molecule and can hit dopamine receptors 20-30 times faster/harder, depending on dosage.

Amphetamine/speed is *easy* to drop, the withdrawal period is 2-3 days for most people, but methamphetamine? One of the only drugs on earth capable of causing physiological dependence from one use.

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Steve Elliott's avatar

Brave work!

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Edward Swafford's avatar

Thank you, Sir Steve!

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