I could feel myself slipping through the cracks of life. Thanks to periodic odd jobs, I was swinging wildly from being able to afford drugs to missing payment dates to my dealer. I desperately fought to point my life in a positive direction, but my grip on reality was loosening. I started doing shady deals to acquire drugs that I could distribute myself on the streets of Saskatoon. I just needed to make enough money so I could keep myself supplied with my drug of choice - cocaine. For a while my strategy worked, but eventually, thanks to my drug-infected brain operating in a state of paranoia and fear, I lost control over my cocaine business dealings. My dealer became very angry and showed no compassion for my situation.
I was getting deeper involved in things I should have been walking away from, not walking towards. Desperate for help with my aggressive dealer, my paranoid, illogical brain told me to call Larry, a dealer in deeper than even I, and ask for help. Larry asked me to take a drive with him. We headed out of the city. Suddenly, Larry stopped the truck and asked me to get out. As I climbed out of the truck, I found myself standing on the edge of a ditch. As I turned around to face Larry, I found myself staring at the barrel of a gun pointed straight at me. Larry's composure was steady. I knew how this was going to play out. I was in big trouble. The gun was loaded and the hammer cocked.
"A Line Runs Through It" tells the story of how Niall Schofield fought his way out of trauma-related addiction to regain control of his life, and then chose to find a way to help others on the same path.
Niall Schofield was born a member of Saddle Lake Cree Nation in Alberta, Canada. He was adopted into a Caucasian family as part of the '60's scoop and raised in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Niall battled through, what seemed to be, impossible circumstances. In 2015, he found himself at a crossroads - continue down the path he was on or choose a path never seen. After centering himself with what was inside his heart, he chose a path of difficult terrain, overcoming the trauma of childhood sexual assault, drug addiction, and the stigma of having FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder).
The author overcame these intense obstacles with perseverance and emerged with a stronger sense of self. He hopes that the people who hear his story will be empowered and have the strength to overcome their worst fears and what holds them back - breaking the chains of trauma to live out their purpose.
