Friend or Fiend

            I have many fond memories of my early child life, as well as very horrible ones, which I constantly remember and blame myself for it. .
             When I was in my third year in college, I became acquainted with a boy named Edgar. We quickly became friends because we sat together at class. On the first look, he looked like the most decent boy that had ever lived He was a school prefect and a very obedient boy, but what he did to me made me regret my decision to get to know him.
             One day, as Edgar and I were walking back home from school, he took a cigarette from his pocket and offered it to me. I was stunned with his behavior and I immediately refused. He did not seemed satisfied with my refusal, and he persisted. He said " Come on, Robert, one cigarette won't harm you. Go on, it's a good thing!" I hesitated, and in the end I succumbed to his persistence and took the cigarette. From that moment I smoked my first cigarette, I was addicted to it.
             After three months of intensive smoking, I felt my body deteriorating. My breath was constantly stinking, and even my teacher sensed that I was not myself. She asked me whether I was alright. I told her everything was fine and that I was a bit sick. My parents too were concerned about me, as my studies were dropping. I felt that I was betraying my parents, not telling them the truth. At the same time, I felt completely helpless, even though so many were offering me help. I wanted to quit smoking, but each time I thought about it, the more I smoked.
             One day, Edgar stopped supplying me free packets of cigarettes. He wanted me to pay for the cigarettes he had given me. He even threatened me that if I did not pay; he would beat me up. I was forced to pay him back, with my own money. .
             On another occasion, Edgar took me to a pub and made me drink a lot of beer. I refused. However, he could not accept my refusal, and he forced the beer down my throat. I choked and spitted out the beer.