Shannon Garrett performs a chilling dramatic theater monologue titled ‘Introduction to the Enemy,’ delivered from the first-person perspective of addiction itself — personifying the disease as a controlling, predatory force that isolates, manipulates, and ultimately destroys its victims. The piece culminates in the revelation ‘I am addiction, and I command it,’ creating a visceral, unflinching portrait of the grip of substance use disorder.

Watch on YouTube at 02:37:43

Transcript

[02:37:44] should we i don’t know what we need to do here so are we like just bringing him up and i just

[02:37:50] think that when we say welcome to the stage it’s about to go down that’s all i know all right cool

[02:37:58] so is he gonna come up and talk into the mic i don’t know but put the put the thing in the thing

[02:38:03] oh yeah i think he might have somebody that’s gonna enter do you want to introduce him

[02:38:07] okay hold on hold on all right jason my man’s what’s good hey say everybody say happy birthday

[02:38:13] to my man’s jason

[02:38:14] happy birthday jason hey you thought she was gonna sneak in here and i do nothing hit them

[02:38:21] lights for me and og uh for speak your truth jason was there for the very first speak your

[02:38:26] truth he worked the door for us the very first he worked the door we will never forget you

[02:38:31] all right cool oh i guess i’ll use this one hi everybody hi my name is sarah but i am

[02:38:42] introducing the real star of the show this is the real star of the show the real star of the show

[02:38:44] this is shannon garrett performing an introduction to the enemy

[02:39:14] real star of the show her name is shannon garrett and this will be我是 гранато

[02:39:25] لم

[02:39:43] wow

[02:39:44] Look at me, hear me, know me and fear me.

[02:40:14] I was born at the beginning of time and still I live among you.

[02:40:23] For this I thank you.

[02:40:29] I see you and you and you.

[02:40:39] I see all of you.

[02:40:43] All of you.

[02:40:44] Did you think you could hide from me?

[02:40:49] You cannot hide from me.

[02:40:53] I know where you are going before you get there.

[02:40:58] For I sent you.

[02:41:01] I know what you think.

[02:41:04] For I breathe your thoughts.

[02:41:08] I know what you will do.

[02:41:12] For you are me.

[02:41:13] You are my puppet.

[02:41:17] Dance for me puppets.

[02:41:22] Dance.

[02:41:28] I know what makes you happy.

[02:41:31] I keep it from you.

[02:41:34] I know what makes you sad.

[02:41:37] And I will remind you of it every day.

[02:41:42] I know what you are afraid of.

[02:41:46] I use it to paralyze you.

[02:41:51] Without me you are empty.

[02:41:54] You may have no friends before me.

[02:42:00] I am all the family you have left.

[02:42:05] Yours is a shame of you.

[02:42:10] But do not worry my children.

[02:42:14] For I have great plans for you all.

[02:42:19] Some of you will die quickly.

[02:42:23] Some will wallow in misery.

[02:42:26] And die slowly in great pain.

[02:42:30] Some of you will kill yourselves.

[02:42:34] Some of you will kill each other.

[02:42:37] And some of you.

[02:42:39] I will sell your ass for the pleasure of another.

[02:42:47] I am honored by the sacrifices you make for me.

[02:42:52] You have turned on your families for me.

[02:42:56] Given up your education for me.

[02:43:00] Thrown away self respect for me.

[02:43:05] Some of you.

[02:43:07] Have left your children crying for me.

[02:43:12] You have denied your God for me.

[02:43:16] Violated your innocence.

[02:43:19] Given up your freedom.

[02:43:21] And sold your dreams for me.

[02:43:26] You lie for me.

[02:43:28] Steal for me.

[02:43:30] Cheat for me.

[02:43:32] And last of all.

[02:43:35] You will die for me.

[02:43:44] Why?

[02:43:46] Because I am addiction.

[02:43:49] And I command it.

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