THE ROOM IN NEW YORK CITY, WINTER

John eventually worked up the courage to return to New York City. He had a room on D Street, in the East Village. Drug addicts and Puerto Rican dealers lived in the dirty apartment building with him. He had to share a dingy bathroom with other roomers.

It was late winter and he was going stir crazy.

It is February in New York City and I have no job. I lie on my bed in this cold, drab room, staring at…