Welcome to Wednesday One Chots, the series where we share a bonus midweek story with you.

This time we have a story from a listener named Emily.

In 2015, I moved to a town where I knew nobody, but who doesn't love a fresh start, right?

I started working at a factory and made friends quickly. I have always been a people person. I enjoy new people and new adventures, so I put trust in others easily. Yeah, dumb I I know, well I know now. At this factory, I didn't work with

everyone, but those who I worked with worked very close with me, so I either knew everything about a coworker or

absolutely nothing. There was no in between. After a year of working there, this man who I worked with said he wanted me to meet his son who will call

CJ.

My co-worker said that his son was being released from prison, claiming that he wasn't in there for anything

too bad.

He wasn't sure why CJ was in prison, but he said that he thought it was just because of a violation of his probation.

I know I could have probably given CJ's name a quick search on Google, but I didn't.

Don't judge me, remember.

I said I was overly trusting.

A few weeks had passed and my coworker's son, CJ, came to work at this factory as well. Now I ignored 100% of the red flags.

CJ walked up to me. He was bald, six foot five, and he had a pale tattooed face.

He said high as he approached me.

There was nothing that attracted me to him, so I still didn't instigate anything with him.

Looking back, I think it was because at the time I was very insecure and trying to overcome

my own emotional shortcomings.

At this time, I was clean from drugs for about a year or so,

and I was looking for anything to take me out of, well, me. A few days had passed and CJ invited me over to the house where he lived with

his dad. When I got there they were passing a plate of meth around.

...