30
When Nia got back to the room, Tanya was gone.
The other girl stumbled into the room in the early hours of the morning reeking of alcohol. That became a weekend pattern—and some nights during the week.
Nia tried to talk to her about it.
“Jesus freak,” Tanya said as she glared and then turned away.
The rest of the time, they had an uneasy truce.
With no Sunny or Bart to distract her, Nia focused on her studies. She was way behind but soon caught up. Her Freshman project about David was her biggest worry. Nia stretched at her desk. Should she take a break? The cafeteria had peanut butter cookies.
Her cell phone rang.
“Hey, Auntie.”
“How are you, sweetie?”
“Good. Just working on my David project.”
“I called to tell you about Keisha.”
Nia’s stomach twisted. “She came home?”
“Not exactly. But she did call her mother. Keisha had the baby. A little girl.”
“Are they OK?”
“Yes and no.”
That didn’t sound good. “What’s wrong?”
“They’re both alive, but the baby was born addicted.”
“That’s horrible. Addicted to what?”
“Heroin and crack.”
Nia couldn’t believe it. How could Keisha be that stupid? “Keisha’s using heroin?”
“Apparently so.”
“That is so…just awful.”
“It is, but remember it’s not our place to judge.”
“It’s a little hard not to.”
“Hate the sin and love the sinner, sweetie.”
Auntie was right, but that was an area she was weak in. Why didn’t people make better choices in their life? Especially when it came to drugs. But then, she’d made bad choices, too. Look at her debacle at Helping Hands. “Where are they?”
“They’re in a hospital in Daytona Beach.”
“In Florida. How’d she get there?”
“I have no idea.”
Tanya walked into the dorm room and gave a half-hearted wave.
Nia waved back but kept her attention on the phone conversation. “What will happen to the baby?”
“There are protocols in place when a baby is born addicted to a substance. Keisha has a choice. Go to rehab or lose custody of the baby.”
“Did she say what she’ll do?”
“She went to rehab yesterday. And when the baby’s released in a few weeks, Keisha’s mom will have temporary custody until Keisha can prove she can take care of the baby.”
“Can I call her or go see her?”
“I don’t think so. Basically, she’s under house arrest but at the rehab clinic. They aren’t letting her talk to anyone other than her mother.”
Nia hung up and closed her eyes to pray.
“That sounded serious.”
Nia opened her eyes. “It was. A friend of mine had her baby, but the little girl was born addicted to heroin.”
“Oh…that’s bad.”
“It’s more than bad; it’s horrible. And that poor little baby.”
“Is she gonna be OK?”
“My auntie seemed to think so. She’s a nurse so she knows about these things. And I know you don’t want to hear what I’m about to say, but I’ll say it anyway.”
“Save your breath, Nia. I don’t do drugs, and I’m not stupid enough to get pregnant.”
“Alcohol is a drug. And every bit as dangerous as other drugs.” Since the incident with Sunny, Tanya spent every weekend getting drunk—and some weeknights.
Tanya held up a hand. “I’m fine. I’m just having fun. I’m going to classes now and passing, I might add. So what if I have a little fun on the weekend? I’m not a Jesus freak like you. I’m allowed to have fun.”
“I don’t know why you call me that.”
“Really? Every moment you’re not in class, you spend reading the Bible or going to those worship meetings. And you don’t think you’re a Jesus freak?”
“I’m a Christian who wants to please God.”
“Well good for you. I just want to please myself right now. I’ll worry about God later.”
“Tanya, what if you die before you have a chance to do that? Don’t you want to go to heaven?”
“Oh, please, spare me that fairy tale. And don’t even act like you’re worried about me. You never worry about anyone except yourself.”
Tanya’s words stung. “That’s not true.”
“Of course it’s true. You pretend like you care, but the truth is you only care about yourself. If you thought about someone else for a change you might have figured out why Boyfriend Bart broke up with you.”
“What do you mean?”
“You are so clueless.” Tanya shook her head and walked out.
Clueless about what? Did Tanya know something about Bart? Something Nia needed to know? But Bart had made it clear he wasn’t interested in her so…no point in pursuing that relationship.