Chapter Sixty-One

Alcohol.

The scourge of the earth and the source of all its joy!

Lloyd had a discerning taste or liked to think he did and was always particular about what he drank. Despite his modest income, he prioritised quality, saving for a decent brand. The thought of stale beer and plonk for wine was enough to make him shudder.

In some ways, it was a blessing. He hadn't wanted to go down the route of drinking cheap booze to knock himself out. There were other ways to deal with day-to-day stress. Getting drunk now and then was good enough.

The rum Nathaniel had was of a strength seldom found on the streets. In fact, one probably needed a special licence to brew it that strong. It was bitter and burned his throat as it practically evaporated on the way down.

But at that moment, it tasted like the sweetest honey after the hideous journey of his dreams.

"Shit...how do...you stay sober?" He asked between hurried but tiny swallows, each drop making his body shudder with delight and disgust and sha