The next day came around way too slowly for comfort, tossing and turning all night, he had awoken restless, shaking, and covered in sweat!

Needless to say, he was in a foul mood. He wasn't a complete idiot, this was part of the consequences of going cold turkey. Coming off of a pretty high dose of antidepressant meds without cutting it down over weeks is never a good thing, regardless he was now feeling low.

First, a great dream was ruined by a call that went sideways to shit town, then the dream topping to this feces flavored trifle and personal favorite bit.

He spent the rest of the night trying to escape a talking cartoon five-pound note with giant anime eyes and mouth, Yep that's right actual god damn cartoon money. The thing chased him through a graveyard the entire night in the dream. The fucking thing was Laughing and taunting him manically about how poor and worthless he was, and about how he was an idiot for not even knowing how stupid he really was.

The last few days had felt pretty decent and now one phone call and a bad dream and it crumbled. The only thing stopping him from reaching for the meds was the thought of payday that week. Living paycheque to paycheque sucks but he's useless with budgeting and could never seem to save anything substantial.

He wasn't trying to pretend he was borderline homeless but also far from being rich too. If he wants a new game or a fancy gadget other things had to be cut back, extra wasn't a thing with his expenses. Even to get the Playstation he had to eat nothing but toast and Tesco eleven pence instant noodles for two whole months. By the time it came out, he had lost a full stone in weight and had Frank on the cusp of getting him sectioned again. It was worth it in the end though, video games are the escape from realities bullshit when it gets too hard for him.

The next few days were like a crappy spoof of the movie groundhog day. He even made an effort to be more in the loop with current events but that lasted a total of one day. As horrible as a bunch of animals going feral, attacking their owners is or even how sad an unseasonal bug going around giving people a devastatingly bad sniffle was, he quickly realized he just doesn't care. After the failed attempt at trying to be in the know, he settled into a pattern of just playing games and reading comics to pass the days until he was paid.

Sleeping an unnatural amount of hours broken up by his professional job of procrastinating, he got through the next two days in a flash and even managed to beat a certain flying lizard in the game which boosted his attitude slightly.

Waking extra early on the third day he had groggily dragged his ass out of bed, his mood instantly brightening, "it's payday" he proclaimed!

Even looking in the wardrobe and discovering there weren't enough clean clothes to dress a house-elf wasn't enough to bring him down today. He searched the messy floor with vigor for the cleanest jeans and t-shirt he could find and headed for the shower to get clean and dressed...

The act of showering gave him enough time to decide what was needed to be done today. The rent and phone bill weren't due until later in the month but the fridge and cupboards were getting bare again. He needed food shopping today for sure, after deciding on that and probably due to the endorphins of being in a good mood. A bad decision was made, thinking he didn't need the meds again, without the cost of the prescription he could use the money for something more fun instead.

Feeling fresher than before he slipped on the scruffy white trainers near the door and zipped up the grey fleece jacket. One final check of the necessities, he had his keys, phone, and bank card on him, with this everything was set. He was off out the door humming a merry tune all down the stairs.

Walking at a leisurely pace, by the time the cash machine was looming in sight, cold damp morning air had already lessened the upbeat attitude. Reaching the machine and putting the bankcard in, he started contemplating the weather report from earlier in the week, he was sure the weatherman had said it was gonna be warm for a while? It wasn't surprising they had got it wrong though!

On seeing those beautiful plastic notes slide out the cash machine's drawer all thoughts of bad weather were gone. Cash in pocket, the distance from here to the grocery shop flew by.

Twenty minutes later he was stepping into the warm inviting light of the local small Tesco store.

Normally the thing that makes or breaks his day was the shopping, but this thankfully went by with nearly zero hitches. After grabbing the basics in which he meant instant noodles, snacks, and cereal his biggest weakness was waiting in ambush ahead of him. The fresh bread isle always makes his mouth drool while seeing the selection of crusty bread and the fresh baked cookies. As he was perusing their selection an interruption came in the form of a little old lady hobbling in his direction, she was holding a can of sliced peaches trying to get his attention.

"Ahhhh thank heavens", she starts saying, "I'm so glad I found someone! I'm sorry to be a bother but I forgot my glasses at home and cant read if these are in syrup, will you be a dear for me?"

Taking the tin "sure" I reply, hmmm looking at it, yeah it says it's in syrup is that ok? I ask...

"Oh yes perfect! You are a kind boy, thank you" she says taking the peaches back. As she started moving backward turning away she made a huge startling sound that shocked him.

"AAAAAACHUUUUUUU" she sneezes, particles of snot fly everywhere out of this tiny old woman. "Oh, I'm so sorry sweetie," she says, must be someone with a cat near!

Feigning a smile, "haha it's no problem Luv, bless you" he replies while already moving away abandoning the pursuit of snot-covered bread. After paying for the stuff he'd gotten and left with the groceries, it was time for the final item on his mental itinerary for the day.

"Time for that treat" he sang this out loudly to the shock of onlookers, ignoring the staring he grabbed the phone, swiping through contacts a name stands out "CandyMan"

CandyMan's name would be a bit misleading to the more sheltered people out there. For the tokers, stoners, tweakers, and the party all weekers among us this is our gateway to better times.

CandyMan is the nickname his drug dealer goes by, in reality, CandyMan is an aging ex-financial advisor called Tom. Tom went bankrupt in the 70's losing a lot of people's money, had a huge mental breakdown, and just walked away from his life.

He stole his cousin's VW camper van one day and disappeared to become a full-on peace and love hippy. Now firmly rooted in place by trees and rust CandyMan's van has been parked in a forgotten plot of land so long it's now overgrown and surrounded by trees on all sides making it a great place to hide.

Messaging him with just the words "you home?" he waited!, he had been coming to this guy for years, CandyMan wasn't a dealer like you would normally expect of someone selling drugs. Candyman doesn't sell drugs for profit and refuses to do anything highly addictive, he just likes to get high and pretend the fantasies are visions or wise prophecies. The upside to his type of lifestyle though is over the years this man has become like an authority on mind-altering things and where to get them.

Never has issues with cops either here, Since Candy only sells to friends and not just random people off the street it has mainly allowed him to keep a pretty low profile.

The phone buzzes, the message back was one word "come".

Taking a longer route home he passed a group of large trees and overgrown bushes sandwiched between two large walled gardens. Continuing past It, he ignored the area instead, looking around for weird people. At the end of the street, he turned around heading back.

Walking back to the bushes, he slipped into the overgrown mess and headed further in behind the trees. To any who saw, it would look nuts trying to walk through thorns and bushes like this. Sadly this was the only entrance to where CandyMan lived and he even planted the shrubs here to fill it out more.

Once passed the trees the area thinned out a little bit revealing a disused and half-buried footpath through the growth.

He followed the path parallel to the walled-off properties into what would pass as a small wooded area from above. The path goes on for a while and after about a quarter of a mile of rocky path and unsteady ground, the corner of a familiar pink and green rusted van starting to appear on an offshoot just ahead. When about twenty steps away from the van though he heard someone shout out to him...

CM.... Did anyone follow you or see you come in?"

Sighing "No Candy, I did like normal as you tell me every time I'm here! I passed the entrance and circled back to make sure before I came in" he replies.

To the right, he heard some rustling in the bushes getting closer. Turning in that direction slightly shocked, a bold man with a huge scruffy beard wearing bright purple sunglasses and a floral shirt to match pushed back the branches.

CM.... Hey man, can't be too careful kid, Through here, he says in a hushed voice gesturing to come, got something to show you he grins.

Slightly taken aback by the sudden appearance his shoulders relaxed on seeing what it was. Taking a step to follow he replied "Hi Candy!, been a while since I've seen you, what have you been cooking up now?".

Haha, he laughs like a crazy scientist caught in the middle of an experiment.

CM.... Been growing something to expand the mind he turns looking him in the eyes and grinning, and you, my lucky friend have arrived just at the perfect time to test the first batch.

"Nope!" he responds fast.

"Look Candy I trust you and all that, but as I've told you before, I'm not into anything stronger than weed." He continues.

Smiling at him in a way that says he was not taking no for an answer. Candyman speaks like he was an idiot

CM.... look kid, this shit will help you I promise...

Abruptly ending the guy just turns and continues like that was the end of the discussion.

Continuing to follow again and grumbling about not needing anything stronger, he knew in his heart he would be leaving with something weird again. This always happens when Candy gets something new. He'll promise him it will expand his mind, "show me things clearer, help with my anxiety blah blah" and the worst part is, he always buys into the bullshit. All just to spend hours being chased by pink elephants or seeing the walls peeling again. Just as he was resigning himself to fate, a rusted tin-roofed shack, half sticking out the ground comes into view, it looked like an old bomb shelter from ww2 and had stairs dug into the earth in front of it leading to a dark sunken door. Confused and slightly worried he called out "I'm not following you down into no sex dungeon" joking aside he doesn't do small dark underground places.

Candy just laughs and tells him to wait where he was for him. Slumped over and grunting his dealer made his way down the steps into the darkness.

After a few mins of waiting, he was starting to change his mind and consider just leaving, but as these thoughts started brewing they soon vanished. Candy reappeared out of his hole carrying a huge clear glass jar containing that beautiful green lady enticing him back. In the other hand though was a small mysterious brown bag he couldn't see the contents of.

Candy grinned at him "So I've got your stuff here, did you bring something to carry it in?"

Looking at the jar full of that vibrant green stinking weed and drooling a reply

"Yeah haha, I've got something with me for it, I know how you hate wasting plastic" he'd brought a ziplock bag with him, "same price?".

"Yeah," comes from behind his beard he says lifting the jar's lid "amazing stuff this time buddy, got a new strain called hyper couch glue will knock you off your feet man".

After filling the bag and handing it back to him, he was thinking he'd never once seen candy weigh how much to give him. Compared to dodgy black market sources he knew he was getting the better end of the stick though. Perks of having a genuine hippy as your supplier he thought.

Once he'd securely packed away the bag, he got handed the other smaller brown one.

Now in his hand looking at the folded paper, a scent like that of old mustiness crossed with wet soil hit his nostrils. Looking at Candy quizzically "what is it?" He asks.

"Free my friend" Candy grins at him, "reward for the great timing".

Unfolding the bag carefully, he looked inside, confused at what he was seeing "told you I'm not into harder stuff.... wait! Yuck, what the fuck is this?" It was like dried wooden butt flakes.

Candy sighed hard "don't go ruining my buzz with that negativity. This isn't like that acid I promise, this is just shrooms. I finally managed to get hold of some spores off an acquaintance and it's the first batch, trust me you will love it!"

Dejected and feeling like a pushover he agreed to take them promising to let him know what they were like.

The walk back to the apartment wasn't far from there but he was dragging his feet, trying to decide what to do with the shrooms he'd been given. Eyes down on the pavement completely in his own world daydreaming, he was walking on auto mode at this point. If he'd been paying more attention to the surroundings he might have noticed the man walking unsteadily towards him in the opposite direction. As the wobbling man got closer he heard the guy before he saw him,

This was way too drunk for just after lunchtime, it was only 13:20 and the pisshead was plastered and wobbling all over the place slurring gibberish.

Moving to the outer side of the path giving as much clearance as possible, he continued along. Just before passing each other, the blabbering fool in his scruffy grey suit starts shouting some unintelligible bollocks at him...

he wasn't completely sure through the drunk grunting noises and spitting but it sounded angry and possibly homophobic.

Speeding up the pace eager to get away from the situation before it escalated. He was trying not to stare as he passed.

The guy suddenly stops dead and starts ranting some shit about a Reckoning being upon us and how sinners should repent... great he thought "a religious nut".

Thinking he was far enough past him to be safe, he heard a sudden shuffling of feet just before an angry grunting sound started coming towards him. In a half flinching, half turning motion he spun around expecting to see someone lunging.

Heart pounding as he pivoted, he just managed to catch the last moments of this guy doing an ungraceful swan dive into the pavement. "Holy fuck" he let out... Relief flooded him, it wasn't an attack on him. The fool must have lost his balance and toppled.

Hiding a laugh he started looking around, the street was devoid of all visible life, he couldn't even hear any car engines close by. Looking back to the drunk just fumbling around on the floor trying to get up, he resigned himself with a groan.

"Are you ok?" He calls over to the sprawled-out guy. All that came back was mumbles of something he couldn't understand again, "look I'm asking if you need any help, are you hurt?" He tried again slower.

This time movement came as the response! The guy slowly raised his head, looks straight into his eyes, and tells him to fuck off! He could see a few scrapes and cuts on the face now it was up but nothing too serious.

Feeling he'd done more of a civic duty than this sod deserved, he informed the mess of a person lying there, "if you don't need any help then I'll be off". A reply came back promptly this time though, it wasn't the type of response he expected to come out of the person's lips though...

To utter horror half propping himself up, the guy started retching and heaving violently! Before he even had the chance to do more than take a single step back his shoes were covered. Projectile vomit flew all over the street in his direction.

The trainers were drenched in it, the sour-smelling brown and yellow liquid splashed everywhere.

He started dry heaving, it took everything he had not to follow in the drunk's example and puke himself.

Only lasting seconds, he composed himself and the shock lessened. "WHAT THE FUCK" he shouts out looking back to where the guy was...

expecting to see a pile of human failure flopping around there, just lay an empty patch of vomit-stained pavement leading to his trainers. Snapping his vision up and around he spotted the stumbling drunk, in his confusion at what had happened the god damn pisshead who did this to him, had gotten up without a care in the world and somehow made it halfway up the road before he could even process what had happened.

He stood there just staring, scenarios of running after and beating the man's ass floated through his mind. In the end, he settled on just shouting some profanity, then rushing back to the safety of his home before anyone could see it.

The rest of the journey despite being rushed wasn't eventful, he'd arrived back home and dumped the trainers outside for later. The thought of cleaning another person's vomit made his skin crawl at the moment. Safely in the apartment and avoiding the dirty issue at hand, he made himself a cup of tea and was sat trying to calm down.

A single calming drink ended up turning into a few hours of Netflix followed by a little bit of gaming. By the time he remembered the trainers, they had completely soaked up the vomit staining them now.

Now more relaxed and prepared though, he tackled it. Armed with big rubber gloves and detergent he got to work scrubbing. Turns out the contents of a stomach really stains fabric to his dismay.

An hour later and still no closer to getting the smell out it was obviously time to give in he knew. Leaving the trainers out so long had done way more harm than good, sighing he threw them into the trash feeling bad for being so lazy.

Later on, just he was getting ready to settle down for the night and considering whether to smoke a bowl of the stuff currently stinking in the draw, he noticed his phone flashing...

It was a missed call and a message from mum, it Must have been while he was out.

On opening the message he began to read it...

"Hi, tried to call you earlier honey but you must have been busy. Nothing serious, Just checking in while we have a signal. We just arrived in some small town in Germany and will be making our way further tonight. Denmark next before going to Sweden and making our way finally to Norway. The reason I called was about a Facebook post from sally, she says she's got some bug going around there. Be careful Luv and try to stay safe, get some vitamins just in case too. Love you. I'll try to call you again in maybe a week."

He typed his reply into the box...

"Sorry, I missed your call, was busy today. Thanks for letting me know, will do! thanks for the heads up love you both have fun. P.s. will you tell dad I said I'm sorry for the other day."

The message failed to send though, confused he decides they are probably out of signal range. "I'll try again later" he sighs, locking the phone.

He didn't plan on getting the vitamins but it does feel good to know they care at least he thought to himself, "Even if it is sometimes over the top" he laughs...