One day, Martins caught Juliet smoking at the park. In the recovery home, the rules were clear anyone caught smoking or using drugs after one week of abstinence would receive an extra week added to their stay. Martins was supposed to report her, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. Instead, he walked up to her and asked, "Why are you smoking? You know the rules. Why are you breaking them?"
Juliet looked at him and asked, "Did you follow the rules when you were in my situation? Did you ever go back to using?"
They began talking, and Martins admitted it had been difficult at first. He shared a technique that helped him resist the urge. "I would count my fingers one to ten, then backwards three times. Then I'd go outside where people could see me because I used to smoke in hidden places. Being around others kept me from giving in, out of fear of getting caught.
Juliet listened, then offered him a blunt. Martins firmly refused. "No," he said. "I've worked too hard to get out of that situation, and I'm not going back.
Juliet wasn't happy with Martins' refusal to smoke with her. But what surprised her was that he actually stood by his word something she wasn't used to. That was the moment she realized she was starting to like him. Martins was the only person who truly felt familiar to her.
As time went on, they became inseparable. Martins shared a hack with Juliet, telling her to call him whenever she felt the urge to smoke. He promised to walk with her, watch out for her, and make sure she didn't get caught. "If you're going to get caught, at least get caught with me," he said.
Surprisingly, Martins only had three months left at the recovery home. Getting an extra week added would have been a serious setback. But for Juliet, he didn't mind. After all, she was the only real connection he had
One Saturday afternoon, the weather was perfect the birds were humming, the breeze was soft, and the air was fresh. Everyone at the recovery home was outside in their own spots, enjoying the peaceful atmosphere. After therapy, Martins and Juliet stepped out for some fresh air.
Martins suddenly asked, "Juliet, how did you get to the point where you drew that picture of the house, and it ended up being exactly what happened to your family home?"
Juliet paused for a moment before responding. "I really don't know. It was just a random inspiration I got that afternoon when my dad went out to get food. I was curious about Chinese cuisine, and I started drawing while waiting for him."
Martins noticed her hesitation and said gently, "It's okay if you don't want to talk more about it. I just want to understand you better."
Juliet smiled softly and began to share her story. "Since my parents were well off, I didn't have close friends. Most people felt intimidated by me, even though I tried to fit in. I'd beg my mom to buy me the cheapest clothes, but it didn't matter everyone still knew me as the senator's daughter.
"I chose to attend a smaller, less prestigious school because I'm a slow learner. Big schools focus on fancy academic jargon, but I needed a place where I could get hands on knowledge. That's also where I discovered my love for drawing.
"I always wanted a sibling, but my mom couldn't have more children. It was heartbreaking, but I had to accept being their only child their little sweetheart. My parents loved me deeply, but they often sent me alone to the UK for art gallery auditions and workshops. At first, I hated going without them, but I later realized they needed that time for themselves. I grew to love those trips.
"People around me admired how much my parents cared for me. Everything was perfect until the day I lost them. That was the worst experience of my life. I hope that one day, when I'm stronger, I'll be able to share my full story.
By this time, Martins only had two months left at the recovery home. He was doing his best to get to know Juliet better. One day, it clicked for Juliet to ask him how much time he had left.
"Tell me about yourself," she said. "What brought you here, and how long do you have left?"
Martins chuckled and said, "Well, it's a long story. I was 17 when I started hanging out on the streets. In that neighborhood, selling and using drugs was normal. Parents would even watch their kids smoke blunts without saying a word. To fit in, I had to make friends, but it was nearly impossible to find anyone who wasn't already deep into it."
He paused for a moment and continued. "My family wasn't well off. My mom had passed away, and it was just me, my sister, and our dad, who was a drunk. My dad's addiction got worse. One night, he went to the trailer station to sleep and ended up getting arrested. We couldn't afford to send him to a rehab center. After that, everything fell apart.
"I turned to drugs to cope with the emptiness. My sister worked hard to make ends meet, and I worked too, but drugs became my escape from reality. Eventually, my sister grew tired of trying to hold things together while supporting me. She moved to another city to start fresh, leaving me behind."
Martins shook his head as he recalled those moments. "I ended up homeless and spiraled deeper into addiction. My friends and I got into serious trouble, and we were all caught by the police. My sister stepped in and promised the authorities she would send me to a recovery home instead of letting me go to jail.