​Chapter 16: Rock Bottom Ain’t Got No Basement

Me and Kiesha was flyin’ through a crack rock maze field with a lighter that never ran out of fluid.

Yeah... we was in Niggadise.

I felt weightless, cloudy and airy, the world spinnin’ in slow motion.

Next to me, Kiesha giggled, fingers twitchin’, lips mumblin’ some nonsense to herself.

Her eyes was glassy, wide as hell, like she was watchin’ a movie nobody else could see.

Meanwhile, Kirk was sittin’ in the chair by the TV, smokin’ a blunt, eyes low, watchin’ us like we was some kind of fucked-up documentary.

Every few minutes, he’d shake his head, mumble "man, this some bullshit," and turn back to whatever was on the screen.

This was life.

Until it wasn’t....

We ain’t hear the front door open. Ain’t know Kiesha’s mom got off early.

Ain’t even hear the footsteps comin’ down the hall.

We was too far gone.

But Kirk wasn’t.

His head snapped up, nose twitchin’ like a dog catchin’ a scent.

Then—

The door swung open.

And there she was.

Kiesha’s mom.

Lookin’ at us like she just walked into the gates of hell.

Eyes wide.

Mouth set in pure disgust.

The room was thick with smoke—weed, crack, sweat and food.

Me and Kiesha? Lookin’ like two full-blown junkies, eyes glazed, bodies leaning, moving like zombies. I still had the pipe in my hand..shit

Kirk? High as hell..

Kiesha’s mom took it all in.

Then she snapped.

"WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS? Oh this what we do when i’m not home!"

Her voice cut through the fog, yanking me and Kiesha back to reality just enough to realize we was in some deep shit.

I blinked slow, tryna sit up, but my body was still laggin’.

Kiesha, still gigglin’, ain’t even register the danger yet.

Her mom ain’t wait.

She marched straight up and SMACK!

Slapped the shit outta Kiesha.

"Get the fuck out!" she screamed. "Don’t come home till you get rid of that demon! I didnt raise no crack head!"

Kiesha stared at her, stunned.

"You won’t be doin’ no drugs in my house!" her mom continued, voice shakin’ with rage. "You a disappointment, Kiesha! I raised you better!"

Then she turned to Kirk.

"And you!" she pointed, eyes blazin’ with anger. "I’m disappointed in you too!"

Kirk just sat there, silent, takin’ it.

Then she turned on me.

I barely had time to react before she smacked me upside the head.

"And you, Joe!" she barked. "I’ma tell your parents!"

I scoffed, rubbin’ my head, still high but feelin’ some kinda way.

"Man, fuck you!" I muttered, laughin’. "I’m grown!"

Kiesha started giggling again, laughin’ with me, like this shit was a joke.

Like we ain’t just get kicked out her house.

Like we ain’t just ruin everything.

That’s when Kirk stood up.

Fast.

Before I knew it, his hand was on my collar.

And SMACK!

He slapped me.

Not like Kiesha’s mom did.

Not no light shit.

This was wake-the-fuck-up force.

I stumbled back, stunned.

Kiesha froze, mouth open, giggles instantly gone.

Kirk grabbed me by the shoulders, shakin’ me a little.

"Man, come back to reality, Joe!" he snapped, his voice hard, sharp, serious as hell.

"That rock got you trippin’, nigga. We gotta go. NOW."

I blinked at him, still tryin’ to process.

But somethin’ in his voice cut through my high.

For the first time that night...

I felt sober.

We stumbled out the house, into the night.

Kirk’s Chevelle was parked out front, engine still warm.

We climbed in, Me  and Kiesha slumped in the back, still half-fried, Kirk behind the wheel, dead silent.

He pulled off, hands tight on the wheel, drivin’ fast, like he was tryna outrun reality.

In the backseat, me and Kiesha just stared out the window.

The high was wearin’ off now.

That empty, hollow feeling was settin’ in.

We fucked up.

Lost a home.

Lost a piece of ourselves.

By the time Kirk pulled up at the park, none of us spoke.

We just sat there.

In silence.

​