The Dopefiend

by JaQuavis Coleman

  “What the fuck?” Seven whispered as he stared at the dead body.

  “Seven!” Hazel said as she ran into his arms, sobbing. “I didn’t mean to do it! He . . . he was hurting Millie,” she cried as she broke down into his arms.

  “Calm down. Calm down, ma,” Seven whispered into her ear as he embraced her tightly. Hazel took his words in heed and calmed down. Seven grabbed her by her shoulders looked her into her watery eyes. With his piercing eyes and cold stare, he demanded, “Tell me exactly what happened, Hazel. From beginning to end. Don’t leave out anything.”

  Millie immediately cut in, loud and asserting, while holding a pack of frozen vegetables on the side of her face to keep the swelling down. “Me and Hazel were down here minding our own damn–” Millie said, but Seven raised his hand, signaling her to stop talking, and gave her a look that could kill. The look was so menacing, so sinister, so sincere that Millie instantly closed her mouth and smacked her lips.

  “I asked Hazel!” he said, while raising his tone, something that he rarely did.

  “We were down here getting high . . . and he just came over and tried to rob us of the dope we had. He started to beat Millie and . . .” She started to breath heavily. “And I stabbed him. I killed him, Seven. I’m so sorry. I know I should have stayed at Insight. I’m so sorry,” she said as she dropped her head and cried while shaking her head from side to side.

  “Anybody see what happened?” Seven asked, knowing just how to solve the problem accordingly.

  “No, just Mille and me were down here,” Hazel said as she looked at Seven.

  “Are you sure?” he asked again.

  “I’m positive. Only person knows about it is him. He came down right after it went down,” Hazel answered. That’s all Seven had to hear. He looked back at Rah and winked at him, giving him the signal. Without hesitation Rah stepped over the dead body, standing right in front of the man, and pointed his gun to his head. The man didn’t even have a chance to say anything in his own defense. Boom! Rah rocked him to sleep, giving him a hollow-tip bullet straight through his forehead, making him drop immediately. He was dead before he even hit the floor. Millie and Hazel both jumped at the sound of the unexpected gunshot. Blood splattered on Millie’s face because she was standing next to him. She dropped her bag of vegetables and her knees began to tremble in fear. Her ears started to ring and she couldn’t hear out of her left ear momentarily.

  “What the fuck!” Millie asked as her eyes grew big as golf balls.

  “Oh my God!” Hazel yelled as she clung to Seven.

  “No witnesses, no murder,” Seven whispered to Hazel, explaining the rules of the game to her in very few words. Rah then pointed the gun to Millie’s head.

  “What about her?” Rah asked as Millie was standing there frozen with fear while looking down the barrel of Rah’s gun.

  “Oh, it’s like that, playboy?” Millie said without any fear in her heart. “How I look?” Millie said as she fixed her hair, being her same self even in the face of death.

  “Nooo!” Hazel screamed as she looked at Rah and then back at Seven. Seven paused, deciding what he was going to do about Millie, who could potentially tell someone what had happened that day.

  “Seven! No!” Hazel said as she grabbed Seven’s collar.

  “Rah, leave her alone . . . for now,” Seven said coldly as he gently pulled Hazel’s grip from his cotton polo shirt.

  Rah gave Millie a small smirk and then he lowered his gun, putting it in the front pocket of his hoodie. Rah then pulled out a handkerchief and began to wipe the blood that had also splattered on his face. Seven walked over to Millie and swiftly put his hand around her neck and squeezed so tightly that she couldn’t get any oxygen. Hazel wanted to tell him to stop, but the look in his eyes told a story of its own. Don’t fuck with me, was what they said, and Hazel just sat back and watched.

  “Listen and listen close. I am only going to say this once. Stay . . . away . . . from . . . Hazel,” he said through his clenched tenth as he tightened his grip, causing veins to form in his hands. “If I catch you around her again, I will kill you. You can take that to the bank,” he said, sincerely meaning every word that escaped his mouth.

  “Okay,” Millie managed to say as she stood on her tippy toes, slightly lifted her body off the ground. Just barely, Millie managed to whisper “Okay.” Seven released his grip and let Millie fall to her knees while holding her neck, trying to catch her breath.

  “Let’s get the fuck out of here,” Seven added as he shook his head from side to side in disappointment. Seven turned around and left, grabbing Hazel by the arm, making her go with him. Hazel wanted to stay with Millie, but she understood that her way of living would eventually land her in one of two places: dead or in jail. That day was her wake-up call. Hazel looked back at Millie and watched as she tried to catch her breath. It was painful knowing that she had to leave her, breaking their bond, but she knew it had to be done for her to get well. She was about to play by Seven’s rules and try to change her life. She decided that right then and was about to give change for Apple, for Seven, and most important . . . for herself.

  Chapter Twelve

  Week One of Recovery

  Seven sat in the corner of the meeting room reading a book while frequently glancing over at Hazel. He observed her as she frantically scratched herself while clenching her jaws tightly. She sat in a discussion circle along with the other recovering addicts in the rehab center. Seven had decided to stay with her throughout the healing process and wouldn’t leave her side until she was drug-free. He had put Rah in charge of his drug business and took a brief hiatus to give his undivided attention to Hazel’s recovery.

  Hazel hated the fact that Seven was with her around the clock because it prevented her from falling off the wagon and going back to the drugs that she wanted—no, needed so badly. She looked around at the addicts giving their testimonies and it made her sick to her stomach knowing that she was in the same boat as those strung-out people. She wished Millie were there with her; at least they could make jokes and laugh at the people there. But Millie was in a place unknown and Hazel was there alone, battling her own demons. Seven was her only crutch. Hazel had had enough and got up, excusing herself from the group. However, Seven got up right with her with his arms crossed, giving her a stern look. Almost immediately, Hazel stopped in her tracks, smacked her lips, and turned around, returning to the circle. Seven was about to be on her like white on rice and this was only the beginning.

  Week Three of Recovery

  Seven sat at the end of the bed, rubbing Hazel’s sweaty back as she tossed and turned in her sleep fighting the demons that withdrawal had to offer. The sounds of thunder and rain hitting the windowpane serenaded the night’s woes. Seven was there every step of the way, trying to get Hazel off heroin. She scratched herself in her sleep and occasionally woke up sweaty and paranoid, but Seven was there every time to let her know that everything was okay.

  “Everything is going to be okay. I got you,” he whispered. At first Seven was helping Hazel solely because of the fact of who her father was. But somewhere along the line . . . he began to help her because he wanted to. Hazel and Seven, throughout her recovery, became more than friends.

  Week Eight of Recovery

  It had been two months since Seven dedicated himself to getting Hazel clean and all the hard work had paid off. Seven was in the front row dressed in a designer slacks and a crisp, tan dress shirt, with a beige and cream tie. Rather than the biggest dope man in Flint, he looked like he stepped right off the pages of GQ magazine with his business attire. It was a special occasion, so he stepped out of his usual realm for Hazel, dressing accordingly. He watched as Hazel stood in line, preparing to get her certificate of completion from Insight. She had been drug-free for sixty days and Seven had been with her every step of the journey. It had been a hard one, but they made it together. Hazel is a beautiful woman, Seven thought as he couldn’t take his eyes off of her. It was har
d to see that through the glaze in her eyes that the heroin caused, but now they were clear and Seven was taking notice of the real Hazel. He watched her stand in line, frequently looking at him and grinning from ear to ear.

  “Hazel Brown,” Dr. Young said into the microphone as he looked to his left and smiled at Hazel, who seemed more vibrant than ever. She no longer had dark circles around her eyes and she had a certain glow about her that somehow got lost while she was doing the dope.

  Seven stood up and joined the auditorium in congratulating her for the remarkable achievement. Hazel had become the darling of the rehab center, because she was the youngest and everyone was rooting for her to get clean. She had become everyone’s baby and with that, she gained a family that she never had.

  Seven gave a rare smile and Hazel glanced down at him from the stage and returned the smile, almost dropping a tear; a tear of joy. She walked over and got her certificate and embraced Dr. Young.

  “You did it, Hazel. I knew you could. This is only the first step. Now the real challenge begins. But, I know you can do it. You have a strong support system behind you,” Dr. Young said as he looked at Seven, who was still standing and clapping slowly.

  Thank you so much, Dr. Young,” Hazel said while smiling ear to ear, displaying her beautiful, youthful smile.

  Hazel took her award and ran off stage, while Dr. Young called another recipient’s name on the microphone.

  “I’m proud of you, ma,” Seven said as Hazel ran into his arms. He hugged her closely, wrapping his strong arms around her body, letting her know she was safe and secure with him. Hazel closed her eyes and rested her head on his chest, smelling the clean scent of his cologne.

  “Let’s get out of here. I have a surprise for you,” Seven said as he threw his arm around her shoulders.

  “A surprise?” Hazel asked as she looked up at him and gave him a skeptical smirk.

  “Come on, I will show you,” Seven said calmly as the smile left his face and he threw his head in the direction of the exit. Hazel was excited to see what Seven had for her. She hadn’t had anyone surprise her with anything since the absence of her father. Hazel and Seven walked down the aisle, heading out. Hazel was so excited, she never noticed Millie, who sat in the back row with tears in her eyes. Millie had been staying away from Hazel, knowing that it would be best for her. Millie watched her “Hazelnut” get her award and it made her so happy. She had finally gotten some sort redemption for introducing Hazel to heroin. Millie’s heart fluttered as she watched Hazel leave the auditorium with Seven. Hazel was the only family she had and to know that she was clean. It made her horrible world seem better just for a brief moment. “I love you, baby,” Millie whispered as she watched Hazel exit with Seven’s arm around her. Her pride and joy had just walked out of the door. Millie hadn’t realized how much she needed Hazel until she had been out of her life. Millie got inspired to get clean just like Hazel had done, but reality quickly sat back in when her Jones came a-knocking. Millie felt the familiar sharp pain shoot through her stomach. She stuck her hand inside her jacket’s pocket to make sure her dope packet and needle were still there. She gave Hazel and Seven enough time to leave the parking lot and she exited, heading to a shooting gallery so that she could get her first shot of the day.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Hazel walked with both hands in front of her, trying not to bump into anything. Seven’s tie was wrapped around her face, covering her eyes. Seven had pulled into the Benz dealership and was about to give Hazel the surprise that he was referring to earlier that day. Seven guided her as the approached the ocean blue, drop-top convertible that had Hazel’s name engraved in the headrest.

  “You ready?” Seven asked as they stood right in front of the bumper of the car.

  “Yeah, I’m ready,” Hazel said while smiling, feeling her heart beat rapidly inside of her chest. Seven untied the tie from her face and Hazel opened her eyes. When she saw the luxury, shiny car her mouth dropped. She quickly turned to Seven.

  “Stop bullshitting! This is mine?” she asked as she slightly bounced up and down.

  “No bullshit, ma. This yours,” Seven said as he reached into his pocket and pulled out the keyless key with the big Mercedes sign on it. Hazel quickly hugged Seven wildly and stood on her tippy toes to peck him on the cheek.

  “Thanks, Da—” Hazel quickly stopped herself just before she accidently called Seven “Daddy” because of the familiarity of the feeling that Apple once had given her. “I mean . . . thanks, Seven,” Hazel said, correcting herself. Seven smiled, knowing what she almost called him. He quickly wiped the smile off of his face, not wanting her to know he liked the idea.

  “You’re welcome. You deserve it,” he answered. “Let’s test this bad boy out. After you,” he said as he handed her the keys. Hazel quickly grabbed them and jumped into the car without opening a door. Seven followed suit and got in right after her. He didn’t have to worry about paying the dealer because earlier that morning he hit the chief dealer with $50,000 cash for the car. Without hesitation Hazel started up the car, and the engine purred silently but with power and torque. Seven never even bothered to ask if Hazel had a driver’s license, but he soon would find out how she drove. She hit the gas and the sound of tires screeching was the only thing to be heard in the parking lot on the Friday afternoon. “Whoooo!” Hazel yelled as she sped off, feeling free as a bird as her hair blew in the wind.

  After thirty minutes of tearing up the highway, Hazel was pulling into Seven’s apartment complex.

  “Seven, I really appreciate what you do for me,” Hazel said as she put her car in park and positioned herself where she was facing him directly. “You made me get clean. I can finally look myself in the mirror and see a soul. For so many years there was nothing there. I look at life so much differently now. That shit doesn’t have a hold on me and I owe it all to you. Thank you, Seven. I know I haven’t told you this but . . . I love you,” Hazel said as a tear flowed down her cheek and dripped off her chin.

  Seven paused and let Hazel’s words soak in. He wanted to tell her he loved her back, but there was something that stopped him. He had never told anyone that he loved them besides Apple and his own grandmother, so he took those strong words very seriously. He placed his hand on Hazel’s inner thigh and rubbed gently. He didn’t tell Hazel he loved her back, but his eyes did it for him. Hazel spoke again.

  “I promise, when I get a job, I will find a place of my own,” Hazel said, knowing that Seven had helped her enough by providing a roof over her head throughout her recovery.

  “You know . . . I was thinking maybe you can stick around for a while. I like the way you keep the spot clean for me,” he said, giving her a lame excuse to make her stay a little bit longer. Seven didn’t want to admit it, but he liked Hazel being around.

  Hazel smiled, knowing that Seven didn’t want her to leave, and played along. “Okay, I will keep that pigsty clean for you,” she said playfully as she placed her hand on top of his.

  “Listen, I’m going on a boat trip this summer. Have you ever been on a boat?” Seven asked as he tried to change the mood, not wanting to have a romantic moment with Hazel, out of respect for Apple.

  “No, never been. Daddy said he was going to take me on one when I was little . . . but it never happened,” Hazel replied.

  “Well, a friend of mines takes trips every year and he invited me. I want to go. You game?” Seven asked.

  “Yes, I would love that, Seven,” Hazel answered, feeling honored that he asked her. Hazel was determined to make Seven her man. She didn’t realize, but Seven was her first crush. Her life had been filled with so much strife and drug abuse, she never had the experience of having a crush on a boy nor man. Subsequently, her first love was heroin.

  Millie swayed back and forth while smoking a cigarette, waiting in line at the Plasma Center on Pierson Road. It was a center that bought blood for medical use, which was a way to get quick cash. The line was long, filled with heroin users look
ing to get quick money so they could cop their fix. Millie peeked to the front of the line and smacked her lips, seeing that she was the twentieth person in line.

  “They need to hurry the fuck up,” Millie whispered to herself as she began to grow impatient, feeling her stomach beginning to rumble. It was the end of the month, so she was strapped for cash. She was on her menstrual cycle, so she couldn’t turn a trick to support her habit. Giving blood was her only other option to get a quick buck to cop her dope. Her time was running out and she knew that within the next hour, if she didn’t get her dope, she would be balled up in agonizing pain craving it. “Come on,” she said as she puffed her cigarette and grew more edgy by the moment. She was jittery and irritated to the max. Millie looked to the front of the line and saw Thelma, a known junkie from the neighborhood. Millie, being an opportunist, quickly got a good idea to get herself to the front of the line. Millie stepped out of the line and went toward Thelma, who had on a wig and shades.

  “Thelma,” Millie whispered as she tugged the woman’s coat. Thelma quickly turned around and looked back at Millie.

  “You got the wrong person, honey,” Thelma answered, and looked away when she saw who it was. Millie stepped closer to Thelma, invading her personal space.

  “Bitch, don’t play with me. You betta let me cut or I’ma bust your ass out,” Millie whispered as she leaned into Thelma’s ear. Millie knew that Thelma had HIV, as well as the whole neighborhood. That was a red flag at the Plasma Center and a sure way to get rejected from the nurses inside. Once you were on record for having infected blood, you were banned from the center and your name placed on a blacklist. Millie knew that Thelma must have had a fake ID and was trying to slip in between the cracks. Thelma had put a faulty disguise, trying to swindle her twenty dollars from the Plasma Center. She couldn’t fool Millie though. Millie was about to take full advantage of the situation.