I’ve had enough. I’ve lost my job. The missus has taken my kid and shacked up with a fucking doctor. I’ve lost my flat and am now absolutely skint. I’ve got nothing.

I’ve been living up in Manchester but there’s nothing for me here now.

So now here I am at piccadilly station about to catch the train down to London. When things started to go to shit I gave my uncle a shout. He was more than willing to welcome me back in to the fold. I thought I had left that life behind me, obviously not.

A few hours later down in London, I exit Euston station. There’s a car waiting for me. I slide in and immediately recognise an old face from my past. Leon smiles at me in the mirror as he pulls the car out and takes off “Joey me old china plate, it’s been a fair while my chum. Here I’ve got something for you”. At a set of red lights he pulls a package from under his seat and carefully passes it over. I open it up, already guessing what I’m about to reveal.

I test the weight of the gun in my hand, being careful to keep it low and out of sight of the people outside of the car. Remembering days gone by, days filled with needless violence, I tuck the gun under my thigh.

“Your uncles got a job for, wants to throw you in at the deep end lad. See if you’ve still got the bottle”.

I sit there silently. What else can I do? I’ve got bugger all left. I swallow my thoughts and prepare myself for my new future, or a return to my past.