From the Ashes: My Story of Being Métis, Homeless, and Finding My Way

Part 4, Chapter 74 is a verse chapter in which the speaker reminisces about how he once lived in a loveless, violent time, by the “criminal’s creed.” He is able to fight the darkness now because he once was the darkness in his past.

Jesse is arrested one last time for breaking and entering and smoking crack. He calls Harvest House and begs them to bail him out. Eleven days later, he is released into rehab.

Gary Wand, the director of Harvest House, is a recovering addict. He began running to get sober 15 years ago and now runs a running program at the center. Jesse wants to be like Gary but is worried about running on his injured foot; however, Gary encourages him to run slowly. Jesse hears Grandpa in his head telling him to get going and stop feeling sorry for himself. The process feels like “running on broken glass” (324), but the pain is bearable, and Jesse is surprised to find that he is able to do it.