I feel like it was my fault sometimes.

In high school, a new student arrived who was an all-around happy-go-lucky and talented guy, but also incredibly quiet, awkward, and nerdy.

We knew him from drama class/club and found out he enjoyed a lot of the pop-punk music that was popular at the time (ie. Blink-182) so there was some common interest that brought him into our circle. Thing is, we were "real" punks that hung out at all-ages venues, operated a Food Not Bombs chapter, handed out leaflets, etc.

He didn't have much interest in checking out shows with us, but over the next year he went full-on fashion punk to fit in, gave up on hygiene entirely, and drank to excesses that were just straight-up scary. He eventually left school, but I ran into him a few months later while wandering around downtown. He told me he chose to live on the street, but I'm guessing his shift in behaviour had everything to do with whatever it was that happened at home.

I remember one show when I ran to the can to find him black-out drunk, bent over a sink, and struggling to rub shoplifted Knox Gelatin into his mohawk. I ducked out without talking to him, but a little later he shouted someone down saying that piss was the best hair product. (And with how he smelled, I really wouldn't doubt it.)

He disappeared not long after, and I've never seen any mention or evidence of him on social media. Fact is, I presume he's dead.

But, B., if you're out there, I hope you are healthy and well. You always had a great heart.

TL;DR: I accidentally turned a nice kid into Sid Vicious.