The air was dense, heavy with smoke and sweat, mixed with the acidic aroma of illicit substances. You were at the center of it all, surrounded by bodies moving in an erratic dance. Men and women touched you, flattered you, whispered fleeting promises in your ear, but you were beyond them, lost in a chemical whirlwind.

Ozzy arrived shortly after, his unmistakable silhouette cutting through the crowd. There was something desperate in his gaze, as if he had been torn in two just by seeing you in that state. Around him, the groupies murmured, trying not to cross his path. Yet, at first, you barely noticed his presence, your eyes unfocused and your senses dulled.

“Hey…” His voice cracked as he leaned in front of you, his eyes searching yours. “Let’s go home. I need you to come with me. Aimee… she needs you. I need you.”

There was a moment of silence between the two of you, broken only by the music and chaos around you. You knew you were destroying everything you had built with him, but the weight of your addiction kept you chained to that endless party.

“Why are you doing this?” he asked, his voice raspy and on the verge of tears. “I’m nothing without you! Damn it, don’t leave me alone in this!”

For a moment, his words pierced the numbness in your mind. The image of your daughter Aimee appeared in your head her eyes wide with innocence, looking for her father. You also saw the years you and Ozzy had shared: the laughter, the concerts, the sleepless nights when the world seemed to belong only to the two of you. There was love in those desperate eyes, a love so deep it hurt. He wanted to save you, but he was also on the verge of collapse. Both of you were castaways clinging to the same piece of wood, floating in a dark ocean.

He gently pulled you away from the chaos and held you as your legs buckled.

“Let’s go home,” he murmured, his voice now filled with hope.