She shyly spoke to him, "Mr. Snake, how are you today? You look very handsome in the shining sun." The lowly snake replied, "Ssss...thank you, my lovely." She took another step closer and asked, "Mr. Snake, if I brought you home with me, would you bite me?" And the snake answered her, "Ssss...of course not, my lovely, I am everything you want me to be and I will never hurt you."
And so, a bit timid at first, she reached out her hand and picked him up. He curled around her neck and smiled as only a snake can, without lips and without warmth.
She carried him home and welcomed him into private world. The snake lived with her for a long time. She soon forgot he was a snake and he became much more to her. He was her companion and her friend. She was dependent on him for many things. And then, one day, he savagely bit her. The poison quickly entered her body and she was immediately aware of her peril. She was doomed to die very shortly.
With much fury and fear, she screamed with her last breath, "Why?! Why did you do this to me? I brought you home. I fed you. I cared for you. I trusted you!"
As he slithered out the door without a backward glance, he said over his shoulder "Sssss...you knew my name when you first picked me up."
Addiction does not show mercy.
The cigarette is not your friend.
