The a Team

Author's Note: This conversation is in a coffee shop in London with singer/songwriter Ed Sheeran and a drug user. This was his inspiration for writing the song, The a Team. 

"So tell me, how did it all start?" Ed questioned.

"Well, I don't really know. I mean, I was pretty depressed, and I had nobody to turn to that would care. I got kicked out of my house, so I was sleeping in an alley. I saw some people down the way, you know, using drugs. I thought since my life was miserable already, what else could hurt?" said the junkie. 

As I went to take my seat in the corner of the coffee shop, I overheard some odd things being said by the table that was by the window. At first I was quite puzzled, but then I realized what they were conversing about. I couldn't help myself, but to listen.

"That seems pretty sad. Are you better now?" Ed asked confused. 

"Well, no. You never fully recover back to being the same person you were before," they answered.

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. This person who seems so innocent and, I just can't- I can't explain it. What if they're violent? What if the side effects aren't gone? It's such a horrible thing.  

"Did you ever notice any side effects of doing the drugs?" Ed queried. 

"I mean, dude. It is crazy when you go mixing it up with killers like that. It's like you're in wonderland, and you can't escape it because it's your reality. Every now and again, a lose my train of thought," the junkie answered back quickly. 

This is absolute madness that I am hearing this right now. It just baffles my mind. I've never heard anyone talk about their problems like this before. I want to say something to them, but in all honesty, it scares me that I'm so close to this person right now.

"I don't know if you mind me asking this, but did you ever take anything out on people because you thought it was them who had the problem?" He asked nervously.

"Yes, after I started using the drugs, I went back to my girlfriend's flat, and, and, I beat her. I couldn't control myself. The drugs had overtaken my body. I know it was my fault, but I feel like it was really the drug--" he claimed.

I ran out of the coffee shop before he got the chance to finish. I can't take this anymore. He does harm people, and I can't take a chance. I know it sounds childish, but you can't take chances.