Bullet To The Heart

A Call Like Fire

A Call Like Fire"My name is Randolph, Randy for short"

"Hi Randy" the circle of a dozen or so people chanted.

"And I'm addicted to drugs and alcohol" Randy hung his head in shame, his hands rubbing against each other, slick with nervous sweat.

"That's okay Randy" the leader said in her soft motherly voice that got him to join this damn thing in the first place, "you're getting help and that's all the matters, would you like to tell us why you're here?"

Randy nodded, his unkempt hair falling over his forehead, "the guy I was in love with promised me that he would stay forever, try and be there for me whenever I needed him. He was a soldier, I should have known he left his heart overseas. I woke up one day with only a strip of paper next to me, saying he was gone. That was it" he sighed breathing out, his mouth still tasted like last week's hangover, "I just spiraled, let my family down, hell my older brother hasn't looked at me in a month, I'm just, empty"

"How long ago did he leave?" she asked, her wrinkled eyes lifting from the ground to look at Randy. He’s sure he looked like the addict he was, messy hair now down to his shoulders, sunken and dry eyes. his skin was pale, and damp and his clothes hadn't been run through the wash in a while, he was surprised her nose didn't wrinkle up in disgust.

"Half a year, he used to call and send me letters, I never responded unless it was to curse him, but he stopped trying to reach me three months ago" Randy said, whispering at the end.

"Do you think it might be time for forgive him? Or start the process of forgiveness?" she asked and the woman next to Randy took his hand, her warmth pouring into the young man and Randy looked to her. She was a mother, raped by her older boyfriend, she had started crank after her child was born and now, four years later was clean for 6 months. Her name was Julia and right now all Randy wanted to do was crawl into her arms and cry.

Randy looked to Mrs. Jannen, the leader and nodded. It was time. Elliot didn't deserve to think Randy still hated him and Randy didn't deserve to ruin his life because he was upset.

"Yes, it's time for me to forgive him, and apologize for my own cruelty" Randy sighed, a small smile creeping onto his lips and she looked at him fondly before clapping her hands and smiling wide.

"Well Randy I have a task for you, I need you to promise all of us that you will try and stop cold turkey, we are all here for you, and here to help you. Julia will be your mentor and Victor will be your sponsor" she nodded and pointed to the man sitting across from Randy. He was handsome, graying brown hair and strong features. He'd been clean 15 years.

Randy nodded again, finding tears pricking his eyes, he felt hopeful for once in the last few months. Julia leaned her head on his shoulder and Victor stood, kneeling in front of Randy and wrapping Randy’s free hand in his.

"Call me whenever you need to Randy, I will always be available" he whispered, his voice soft and melodic.

"I will" Randy smiled, and Mrs. Jannen called the meeting to a close.

The rest of the group stood and chatted, eating the food that was available and Victor brought Randy a bottle of water and he sat on the other side of Randy. Julia kissed Randy’s cheek goodbye and scurried off to her son.

"What is his name?" Victor asked, his hand on Randy’s knee.

"Elliot Classman" Randy said.

He just nodded and watched Randy take a long sip, "when's the last time you drank or got high?" he asked.

"My brother threw out my stash last week, but the last time I drank was, well yesterday" Randy said.

"That's good, means you got past the real bad part of quitting crank, first week is the worst, if you can get through that you can get through anything"

Randy smiled.

"That sounds good" he breathed, and Victor smiled, telling Randy it was time to go home and Randy agreed. His body felt lighter leaving the high school gym. Randy smiled the whole way back to the farm and breathed deep when he finally reached home. When Randy opened the door Blake was waiting for him, Sandy sitting next to him, reading a book. He stood and hugged Randy tightly.

"Welcome back Randy" he grinned, and Randy smiled back.

Sandy was telling the boys about her day teaching kindergarten when there was a knock on the door.

"Who on earth is here at this hour?" Blake sassed, and Randy waved him down as he stood.

"I'll just tell them to come back tomorrow, or it’s father"

"Tell him hello is it's him!" Sandy cheered, smiling wide.

"I'll be sure to do that girly" Randy laughed and walked down the long hallway to the thick oak door. Randy opened it, ready to tell whoever it was that it was too late and to come again in the morning. His mouth snapped closed when he saw the black uniform.

"Randolph Sterling?" the tall black man asked.

"Yes? This is he. What's going on?"

"You were listed as Elliot Classman’s emergency contact, is that right"

"I guess so, I didn't know he did that, why is something wrong?"

"He asked me to come see you"

"Is he dead?" Randy asked, his hand covering his mouth.

"No sir, in fact he's home, he's asked me to retrieve you, please come with me"

Randy nodded, not sure what to do. He followed blindly and sat silently as they drove a very short amount of time.

"The ranch? Why wouldn't he go back to the city?" Randy whispered to himself

"He said this was home" the man said, and Randy sighed, what the f**k was even going on? Randy followed him in and he held the door open for Randy. Everything felt wrong, like doom was just around the corner.

Sitting in the kitchen, looking out at the night there was a man, sitting in a wheel chair, he didn't turn to Randy when the man introduced Randy to him, or called Elliot's attention. Randy’s eyes widened when the man who picked him up switched the light on. It was Elliot, his hair buzzed. He didn't meet Randy’s eye, not even when Randy walked over to him, his hand touching the bandage that wrapped around the stump right below his left knee.

"What happened to you?"

Only he didn't say anything.