Wae that, they disappear, walkin back tae the Audi n reversin oot the street. Broonie breathes oot. ‘Thank fuck.’

‘Aw great, it’s been put back a week. How you gonnae git that dough? Yir fucked noo, son.’

‘A’ll sell ma motor. A should git five grand fur that. A’ll pay ma debts n use the rest tae run.’

We share a look n A shake ma heed. ‘Is this where it’s got tae?’

‘A’m due it, mate. It’s gonnae happen n A’m honestly no wantin tae git the face took aff me.’

‘Yi won’t mate. No if yi play it right.’

‘Somecunt set me up, mate. They’ve aw been a step ahead.’

‘Who but?’

‘Nae idea, cuz. A needty git movin mate. Catch yi the morra.’

Broonie disappears in his gate wae his tail between his legs. He wis startin tae sound more desperate. Chances ir, he wid play it aw right, sell his motor, pay his tick n wid still git done, just fur his cheek.

A’m sittin back in ma motor smokin a fag when ma phone goes. It’s Danny. ‘Awright?’ A say, quite surprised tae hear fae the cunt.

‘Is that you, Azzy?’

‘Aye, son.’

‘Wit’s happnin?’

‘Fuck aw, mate. How ir yi?’

‘Better, man. Comin aff it. Just heard aboot Toni-Marie. Cannae believe it.’

‘Fuckin grim int it.’

‘Uft,’ he says n goes quiet. ‘Felt depressed hearin it.’

‘Yi sound different, mate. Better awready!’

‘First week, sir. No slept a wink. A feel worse but A feel better anaw. Up n doon like a fuckin yo-yo, man. A’m back tae front.’

‘Blues n everyhin?’

‘Aff everyhin, nae green, nae blues, nae drink. No touched nuhin in four days.’

A kin tell he’s genuine n A hear it in his voice, the struggle n the energy ae withdrawal that pulls yi backwards towards life at sick-makin speed. Yir mind goes fast n yi speak fast n find brainwaves yi furgot existed. Yi cannae sleep worth a fuck but when yi dae, yir dreams ir vivid nightmares wae increased brain activity n changes tae yir now unsedated sleep state. Often, the unsettlin experience ae aw this will make cunts dial numbers fast tae score suhin tae settle them n git back on that eld ghost train. Danny’s in the trenches ae addiction noo, fightin bravely like A once fought fur that thin n glorious margin.

‘Well in, mate, A mean it, cuz. Proud ae yi. Yi wur fuckin upside doon last time.’

‘A know. A wis strugglin, Azzy. It’s fuckin hard, mate. Honestly.’

‘Mate, listen. Yi know A’m here if yi need us. Night or fuckin day, kid.’

‘Cheers, eld son. Come see us in a couple ae days when A’m no fuckin sufferin as much. No ready tae see anycunt, feelin aw sketchy n that. No maself at aw.’

‘Aw they mad feelings will settle. Yi know yi kin dae it. Yir best mate patched the drugs years ago – yi kin fuckin dae it! A know yi kin.’