The heroine

The neighbour on the other side of the narrow lane
was a ****** addict but had been “clean” for several months
and he had become a fun,  a learned man to converse with.
He was not in his house, but the tape was playing the same
song over and over again “don't tell on me…” I think.
It was dark outside I stood on the terrace and saw his shadow
at his door and knew he was dead.
His shadowy appearance shocked me I had seen a ghost,
went inside and said to my wife Victor is dead.
I saw his last thoughts. Nonsense,
she snorted you are frightening me he is out with his friends,
with “friends” she meant gays, yes Victor was gay in a small
a society that frowns upon homosexuality.
They found him dead he had succumbed to the craving
had taken an overdose of this devilish stuff.