A’m definitely no rollin anymore n A’m drownin in these sensations. The steward takes ma bottle n chucks it in the bin. A’m no in the rave anymore. Game’s a bogey, man, gees ma baw. There’s a wee room wae chairs n inflatable beds. It’s a wee meetin ae the totally fucked cunts, a conference ae sorts. There’s lassies sittin wae spew buckets. Boys sittin wae their tongues hangin oot n eyes naewhere tae be seen. It’s the fuckin gouch couch. A’m puttin ma hands in the air n tryin tae dance, cunts ir laughin if they kin laugh n just keepin being, keepin conscious n tryin no tae lose it cos hearts ir racin in here.

‘WELCOME TAE THE GOUCH COUCH!’ A’m shoutin like a fuckin idiot. The hi-vis sentinel hands me over tae the health n welfare cunts in red fleeces. They feel like sheepy sheep, A think as A’m sat doon next tae a lassie who’s just as fleein as me. A feel like sleepin but A’m being woken by an angel in red. She’s wavin a single finger tellin me tae stay awake. A nod like a wee lost puppy. A’m still sweatin n soakin. There’s a blanket put roon ma shoulders n A’m being handed a packet ae KP nuts n a can ae Coke. ‘Eat them n sip at your can. No sleepin, son.’ A nod n start stuffin the nuts in ma gub. Eatin’s cheatin, doll. They’re dead salty n A’ve nae saliva tae digest the things n ma mooth’s fulla dry nut crumb. The lassie tries tae smile at me but hur face is fucked n twisted wae pills. This isnae beauty, man. Cunts ir sparkled, faces mutated n unhuman wae drugs. This is the few that went wrong, took too many. The lassie’s hair is soakin wet n she’s git on the same blanket as me. Our humanity seeks support n comfort, aw beauty n colour forgotten. We don’t know each other but we’re united in our common sufferin. We, the refugee children of the chemical revolution.

‘Yi awright?’ she asks us.

‘Course A’m ir! A’m Azzy fuckin Williams!’ A slur.

She’s laughin n shakin hur heed. ‘A’m Emma.’

‘Happnin, Emma.’

‘Wit happened tae you?’

‘A’ve took ten sweeties. The last four A’ve gubbed in the wanner. Tae be honest A’m no sure how A got in here.’

‘Me neither. A lost aw ma pals n started being sick, out ma dial.’

‘Fuck sake. Where yi fae?’

‘Coatbrig, you?’

‘Up that way anaw!’

‘Did yees git a bus?’

‘Aye, there wis fifteen ae us. Lost everycunt hours ago.’