The trip of the lifetime
Leap year 2020. February 29. I met K a few weeks before my experience. I told him about my struggles: anxiety, depression, addictions. K is a good listener. He is a lot younger than me; I could be his father. K is a seasoned psychonaut: introverted and intellectual. A smart guy, for sure. I shared my life-long struggles with K only throughout the last few days . We chat in a bar to prepare for what’s to come. I dropped my addiction, cold turkey. The withdrawal symptoms were unbearable. He listened with empathy, kindness, and compassion. He was happy to help. It was noontime when I drove to K’s place. The city was white and brown, a typical winter day in the north. Not too cold. I told my wife what I was planning to do. She did not know exactly what this was all about, and quite frankly, neither did I. On my way to K’s place, fear and paranoia rushed into my thoughts, attacking my mind consistently causing sweat and anxiety. At every traffic light, I thought about turning