carom

/ˈkær əm/

verb

1 To strike and rebound. 2 to glance.

Nick was a junky. He had kind face and a soft voice, and this made it easy for him to squeeze prescription pain killers from many doctors in his town. Driving home one night, after visiting two hospitals and one walk-in clinic, Nick’s car caromed off a tree and into a neighbor’s living room. Knowing that nothing he could do or say would shake the hardship of his inevitable incarceration, Nick embraced his situation and curled up on the couch until the police came.

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