SOUL SEARCHING
“Girl, he had the nerve to tell me he was going on a date,” Jewell told Elsie.
“Well, what do you expect? You won’t give him the time of day unless it relates to Tyson. You can’t expect him to be celibate.”
“Shit! I don’t want him dating.”
“Then you have a decision to make.”
Elsie was telling Jewell that she had a decision to make, but she was no closer to making one herself. She knew she needed to get real and honest about what she was doing and who she would be doing it with. Her love life was a mess, and it was all her fault. For the past couple of weeks, she had been seeing a lot of Janay. At the same time, she tried to give Summer attention so she wouldn’t become suspicious, but it was taking its toll. She knew she couldn’t keep this up much longer. What she needed to do was just come clean.
Jewell wanted to get off the subject. “Let’s get everyone together and have dinner later.”
“I’d like that,” Elsie responded.
“I’ll call everyone.”
After they hung up, Jewell called Crystal and told her the plans. Crystal agreed to call Susan. She ended up leaving a message on Susan’s cell phone.
Susan was in with her therapist, who had asked her how the habit developed. “Well,” Susan told her, “after I graduated from high school, I didn’t touch it for some time, but once I started college, I picked it up again.”
“Why is that?” Dr. Elliot asked.
“To study, to keep me wide awake. I was popping No-Doz like there was no tomorrow. Eventually they didn’t work as well, and I knew several others student were sniffing coke. They seemed to have energy that lasted for days.”
“You weren’t afraid?”
“Not really, because the couple of times that I did it with Timothy, it made me feel like I could conquer the world. Plus, the way I figured it, I was strong. There was no way I would get addicted.”
“When did you figure out that you were?”
Susan looked up. “Just recently. I thought that because I was running a business, paying my bills, still doing all that I’ve done, that there was no way I was an addict. Then I realized that I couldn’t get through my day without at least one hit.”
Susan was starting to look forward to her days with Dr. Elliot. She found herself able to open up more with each session. It wasn’t easy at all. Some days she craved cocaine like it was the last piece of dessert on earth, but she refused to break down. Timothy helped her get through most days. He’d talk to her or they would do something together. Susan had even joined a gym.
Susan glanced at her watch and said, “I think my hour is up.”
Dr. Elliot looked at the clock and said, “You’re right.”
They stood up and as Susan turned to leave, Dr. Elliot told her, “Susan, you’re doing great. I believe that you will overcome this. You just have to believe it as well.”
That was just what Susan needed to hear. “Thanks.”
When Susan entered the hallway, she turned the ringer back on her cell phone and noticed that she had missed a call. She pressed the button and saw Crystal’s number. When she dialed the number, it just rang. She must be on the other line, Susan thought.