“Sam!â€? Her eyes begged him to wake up. Watching his body convulse, shaking the sweat loose from his skin, wrenched her heart through the foggy confusion. “Please Sam, wake up.â€? Limp fists struck his chest as she pounded with what little energy she had left.

His mouth opened for the last time, expelling a viscous, bubbly-white fluid that ran down the side of his face. Ignoring it, she laid her lips against his and kissed him through the sobs, holding his head until the last convulsion hit. His body limp, she cradled him in her arms and cried, “Help! Somebody help him!â€?

A small group of their friends began to gather around the wilted mattress, syringes and collection of cardboard boxes strewn about under the bridge. A man emerged from the crowd, and walked slowly towards her. His jacket, tattered and used, had more holes than he had appendages.

“He gone Sarah.â€?

“No.â€? She shrugged his dirty hand away, “no! It’s not fair.â€?

The man knelt next to Sarah. “Sorry honey, but we need to divvy up his clothes now.â€?