The Cool Room by Clifford Beck - HTML preview

Chapter 46

Leaving the alley, the man left Frank as he slid down the brick wall to a sitting position. With his head in his hands, Frank considered his situation as well as how he would end it. But with his hands continuing to tremble, he reached into his shirt pocket and, removing the vial, poured a small amount of cocaine on a knuckle of his left hand. He hoped that even this amount would stop his hands from shaking, and he could go back to the funeral home without Jonathan or Emily noticing. They had been working some late hours recently and if he walked in quietly he might be able to get to his office where he would ‘medicate’ himself further. Within twenty minutes, he found himself sitting at his desk. Jonathan and Emily had left for the night upon completing the preparation of a client who had arrived earlier that morning. After his experience outside the bar, Frank felt the need to numb the fear the dealer had instilled in him, and ten minutes after administering a line of cocaine he felt that fear melt away. He could now function but given the threat made against him decided it would wise to begin tapering himself off the substance. This would be the last time, there was just too much at stake. It was time for him to deal with his wife’s loss, no matter how much it hurt. But today was not the time to begin his journey to recovery. He had been too shaken by fear and medicated himself too heavily. However, tomorrow was another day and hopefully Frank would be in better spirits and able to start the process of weaning himself off the substance he had been using as a protective agent for his soul. There was no doubt he would soon discover the strength he would need to walk the path in front of him. But no matter how long the trek, Frank was determined to heal his soul and recover his life.