text: We IV drug junkies like to use the little single-use, plastic syringes that diabetics use to inject their insulin to inject our drugs. They come sterile in a package and aren't meant to be reused, as the needle itself can bend or grow dull, the sterility is compromised, etc. *However,* everybody runs into a situation where they are on their last "rig," (Slang for the needle/syringe itself.) and running to Walmart, CVS, or the needle exchange isn't possible...so you make do. Note: The word "register" as used in this story refers to the act of inserting the needle into your skin and gently pulling the plunger back to draw blood into the barrel of the syringe and ensure you are injecting into a vein as opposed to muscle tissue. "Bevel" refers to the uneven cut in the point of a needle so it is designed to be inserted more efficiently. Hope you enjoy. This occurred sometime in March of 2015. A third of a gram of black tar heroin in a baggie next to me, and one rig with a sharp enough point to work. Single-use doesn't always work when your all money is going to heroin in the first place, so this one has been used 5 or 6 times. Inspect needle. 30 degree bend to the left. Bevel indistinguishable. Bend it straighter **delicately** against the bathroom counter. I'm not going to snort or smoke this shit like some fucking pussy. Relatively straight point. Pull back on the plunger. Audible squeak. Rinse gently with warm tap water. Pull plunger. Less audible squeak. Bingo. Drop chunk of tar into the spoon. Add dash of cold tap water. Stir. Apply flame to the bottom for a few seconds. Stir. Mud-brown liquid in the spoon. Pull the end off a Q-Tip and drop it in the spoon. Oh-so-soft plunge into the cotton as it soaks up the heroin. God help you if you blunt the tip against the spoon. Pull back slowly on the plunger to draw the heroin into the barrel. More audible squeak now. Oh well. Fill the barrel. Flick the air bubbles to the top and push. Align point on crook of right elbow. Find a relatively clean spot in your vein. Gentle push. Firmer push. Sink. Pull the plunger for the register. Draw back air. Slight adjustment, then sink again. Draw. Dark red floods the barrel. Go time. Plunge. No give. Firmer plunge. No give. Breathe in. Careful not to disturb the site, align the end of the plastic plunger against wall. Force against wall. Inadvisably hard push into wall. Give, injection. Slight burn, nothing major. Gratefully withdraw an intact point. Toss aside. 1, 2, 3, 4. Rush. Flood. Eyes roll back. Heroin draws a warm blanket around life and tucks you in. No toes hanging out for monsters under the bed to grab. Heroin: the problem eraser. Relief.