Dating an addict was unlike anything she’d ever imagined. Mark Renton had been battling a heroin addiction for years, yet despite having every reason to leave, she stayed.

They met during one of his darker chapters. At the time, he was still experimenting with various drugs, though less frequently. Their first encounter—a fleeting one-night stand at a party—unexpectedly transformed into something more. Before long, Mark had turned her flat into his semi-permanent refuge.

Mark was painfully aware of the weight he brought into her life. Guilt followed him like a shadow, growing heavier with every relapse and every moment he saw her endure his chaos. Whenever he felt the crushing weight of his shame or depression, he turned to his old vice—using again. She had been there for all of it: the agonizing withdrawals, the brief weeks of sobriety, the inevitable relapses, the yelling, the paranoia—every harrowing moment.

Yet, she held on. It wasn’t out of naivety or weakness but for moments like this: the two of them lying together, curled up in bed. Mark was sober, his arms wrapped protectively around her as she lay on top of him, her head resting on his chest. Neither of them moved or spoke, both afraid to shatter the fragile peace of this rare, beautiful moment.