It is a tasty thing. It makes the chemicals in the brain go nice and relaxed. The smoke enters the lungs and goes through the veins to the dopamine receptors in the brain. It gives a feeling not unlike eating chocolate and a relaxed state of mind seem to follow All is well in the chemical cosmos of the human body.

Mhhh... How nice that cigarette was. The gentle nicotine making the day better, giving us a break from reality and daily, mundane, tasks.

Tasks, one after the other becoming more and more, piling up creating pressure and stresses; eating up valuable time. Time in which we could have another cigarette. Oh how nice a smoke would be...

Every passing minute the nicotine gets diluted. Less and less and the lung pain starts. The dizziness coupled with the human body's inability to produce enough dopamine to still the craving for nicotine becomes relentless, it hammers blood behind the eyes and the lung muscles expand and contract desperately in a vein attempt to summon smoke.

The funny tingling sensation runs down the nerves through the whole body and panic starts setting in. Something is missing and something is really wrong. The world is not right. War, pestilence and anger. Hate swells up and the girl next to you is a real bitch. Why is she staring at you like that what does she want, I can strangle her at any time: "Here, have a Marlboro" she says. I could just kill...

The corrugated metal of the lighter wheel strikes the flint and the butane gas creates a warm glow in the centre of this mess we live in. The tobacco sizzles and the blue smoke evaporates against the lining of the lungs. Silence. Peace. Love. Calm.

I look into her deep, beautiful green eyes: "Hi. My name is Philip."