MY SMOKE-FILLED COMPANION: The First Puff

By Muhammad Shakeel

I caught my first glimpse of a cigarette as a child at our local park. The smell wafted over like a forbidden fruit, coaxing my curiosity like a siren's song. It was a warm summer day, and I watched from behind a bush as a few older kids huddled together, puffing and giggling as smoke spiraled into the air. I remember being entranced by their laughter, the careless way they flicked the ashes and shared whispers like secrets concealed in the haze. On my thirteenth birthday, I had my very first cigarette. It was a dare, of course. Surrounded by friends, my heart raced as I lifted the thin, white stick to my lips, igniting it with a match that felt somehow monumental. The taste was foreign and bitter; I coughed and sputtered, much to the amusement of my peers. In that moment of embarrassment, I was unsure if I would ever want to try again. Yet, I did. Weeks later, I found myself sourcing cigarettes from a neighboring friend who had a lenient older sibling. The first few puffs always felt rough--like consuming fire--but it didn't take long for them to become a normal part of my daily routine.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0F5QS551T
• ISBN13: 9798280479425
• Release Date: April 2025
• Publisher: Independently published
• Length: 52 Pages
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 0.1" x 6.0"