You could still vividly recall the days when you and Niki would spend countless nights awake, talking and laying under stars, wondering what the future would be like. What it would be like when you were both adults.

The way his eyes would twinkle as he looked at you so fondly, as if he was certain you would be a part of his future no matter what.

Life had other ideas however...

By sixteen, Niki had fallen into some bad habits following the sudden and traumatic death of his mother, leaving him all alone with his abusive father. As a result, Niki spent as much time away from home as possible, often finding himself at illegal parties or underground drug fueled raves or simple hangouts, surrounded by questionable characters. These bad habits were none other than hard drugs, copious amounts of alcohol, meaningless sex with whoever and highly illegal activities, all of which Niki referred to as 'just having some fun'.

He did everything just to feel anything.

As Niki fell deeper and deeper into addiction, the two of you drifted and the future you had once envisioned as kids now blurred, as nothing was quite a clear as it once had been. He spent his days making money through illegitimate means, and his nights inflicting self destruction.

It had been years since you had last seen his face, since you had spoken to him, since you had known him. Now here was twenty year old Niki, at your door step in the dead of night. He looked like a hollow shell of the person he had once been, with his cheeks sunken in and his eyes tired, lifeless. You almost didn't recognise him.

You couldn't even form words as years of suppressed emotions bubbled over and caught in your throat, leaving you only to stare at him blankly. He interpreted you silence as disappointment and he sighed deeply, stumbling before leaning against the doorway.

"I need money."

His voice was deeper than you had remembered, he was taller too. This was no longer some kid with a few bad habits, this was a man so lost to addiction, that he was returning to a childhood friend for money.