Allow me to introduce myself...

My name is Paine. Kronik Paine.

You may not have first hand knowledge of me, but a lot of people do. I enjoy getting to know more and more people. I'm very sociable. I can't help but hope that I may come and spend quality time with you some day soon.

You may not know when I've arrived. I'm often initially mistaken for my little sister, A. Cute Paine. She's a flighty little thing. Doesn't hang around long enough to really get into your life and fuck it up.

After a while you'll realized I've moved in. Into your life, your very being. There won't be any avoiding me. Oh sure, there might be medications, self administered or otherwise, that might make you forget me for a while, but not for long, I assure you.

Before you know it, I'll be your constant companion. You'll forget what life was like before you gained such intimate knowledge of me. Some days, as many as I can get, you'll have a hard time thinking of anything other than me.

Okay, okay. So I'm a little egotistical. Everyone is, deep down. That's why you'll think that no one has ever lived with me the way that you do. That no one knows me as well as you.

Everyone thinks that, sweetie. Oh sure, you're special. Just like everyone else.

I won't just get up close and personal on a physical level. I like to get to know you better than anyone. I'll wangle my way into your emotional being, your soul if you will. I'll become as much you as you are. You'll use my name to identify yourself.

Now either I've scared you half to death by this time or you figure you're not one of the people on my "To Do" list. I do especially like it when people are lulled into a false sense of security. I like to get the older folks when they've let their defenses down.

The funny thing, and the thing that keeps me going, is that element of surprise. You just never know.