Before the time when things went wrong. Before the time we knew things could go this wrong. Before the initial hook, before the rescue, before the remission. Before the loss and before the pain. Before the creation of such a substance. Before the need for such a substance. Before, substance. Before the lost memories, the funeral. Before the hospital sirens and before the need for hospital sirens. Before mortality, immortality, and the strive for either. Before dependency. Before the time of wanting to stop. Before the time of needing to stop. Before being strong was not enough. Before the break, the collapse, the relapse. Before the prayer for redemption. Before the need for redemption. Before redemption.

Before it was too late.