ago, and Stan sedated her after delivering the news. But he could do nothing about the construct of her mind; something Adharma told her, as well. Erasing the past took time. Teiji did not wish for her to contact him. She imagined word had reached his father overseas and that he would finally come to see what a mess his former lover had made of their son’s life.
“Good morning, Miss Kirkwood.” Stan greeted her warmly. “You will be discharged today at noon; approximately one hour and 15 minutes from now. Please prepare yourself and your things. I will come at a quarter until noon to sign you out.”
Teanna rubbed sleep from her eyes and entered the shower. As the hot water dribbled across her body’s full contours, she thought about her next move. She could not stay in the house alone, where Tiny and Meleasa had died. In a matter of days, the state would pull its aid due to her discovered drug use. Then what?
For one reason or another, she had alienated her friends. No one came to visit her – not even to settle a score or to curse her out. The satisfaction of her failure could be discovered from a distance. She had chosen a boyfriend over her children before – only to later discover that they had told the truth. If I’d believed Tay, or done somethin’, he’d be goin’ to his internship and Meleasa would be alive!
She had barely gotten dressed when Stan returned. “Good morning, Miss Kirkwood. Please affirm your signature on the following release documents by pressing your thumb against the plate located on the front of my arm.” Teanna did so without reading them. “Thank you. Please follow me to the exit.”
“I thought I got a final check up with Doctor Adharma?” she inquired to Stan’s back. He continued to move forward but swiveled his head around to address her.
“Please feel free to visit him. He has offices at the Genesis Institute.”
“I ain’t gotta make an appointment?” she asked, still following.
“No. He marked you as a priority case.”
Priority case? What’s wrong with me? Teanna waited for a public transport at the corner. Two transfers later, she would be dropped off on the same street as the Genesis Institute. She hoped that whatever the doctor told her, it included more of that blue drug that gave her sweet dreams and a pleasant taste in her mouth.
Cee Cee had been to the women’s detention facility a few times to visit her best friend, but Quinne would not have her. This time, she noticed the inmate from afar, dawdling about the yard. When Cee Cee drew close enough to call her name, Quinne glowered back and said nothing. Her stare quieted everything conciliatory her friend could have thought. The bigger woman cornered Quinne and projected enough hostility to impose her will. “Sit or stand.”
Quinne did not speak, but cursed Cee Cee with an evil grimace. You turned me in.
“I commissioned a lawyer to speak with Kareza Noor and the judge regarding your release. Good behavior alone will get you reduced to 45 days.”
Wasting my time. Quinne crossed her arms and sulked.
“I identified your dealer and they caught him.”
You snitched? Her eyes widened.
She held a hand up. “It’s anonymous. But he turned on his supplier, who they’ve been trying to catch for a while.” Cee Cee’s voice bubbled. “Noor made a big deal out of it, so my lawyer negotiated an earlier release for you.”
When?
Cee Cee noticed the wonderment in her friend’s eyes. “Counting time already served. . .next Wednesday.”
Quinne contained her excitement with pursed lips. “Can I still enlist?”
“She talks!” Cee Cee snapped her fingers. “Expunged record! Yep. Forgot about that.”
“You didn’t have to do all that for me.”
“Yes I did. And you’re right. I haven’t been a good friend.”
Quinne swiped the corners of her eyes with the backs of her hands. “What do I owe you?”
“Well, you still have to behave for another week. Can you do that?”
“In
“Good morning, Miss Kirkwood.” Stan greeted her warmly. “You will be discharged today at noon; approximately one hour and 15 minutes from now. Please prepare yourself and your things. I will come at a quarter until noon to sign you out.”
Teanna rubbed sleep from her eyes and entered the shower. As the hot water dribbled across her body’s full contours, she thought about her next move. She could not stay in the house alone, where Tiny and Meleasa had died. In a matter of days, the state would pull its aid due to her discovered drug use. Then what?
For one reason or another, she had alienated her friends. No one came to visit her – not even to settle a score or to curse her out. The satisfaction of her failure could be discovered from a distance. She had chosen a boyfriend over her children before – only to later discover that they had told the truth. If I’d believed Tay, or done somethin’, he’d be goin’ to his internship and Meleasa would be alive!
She had barely gotten dressed when Stan returned. “Good morning, Miss Kirkwood. Please affirm your signature on the following release documents by pressing your thumb against the plate located on the front of my arm.” Teanna did so without reading them. “Thank you. Please follow me to the exit.”
“I thought I got a final check up with Doctor Adharma?” she inquired to Stan’s back. He continued to move forward but swiveled his head around to address her.
“Please feel free to visit him. He has offices at the Genesis Institute.”
“I ain’t gotta make an appointment?” she asked, still following.
“No. He marked you as a priority case.”
Priority case? What’s wrong with me? Teanna waited for a public transport at the corner. Two transfers later, she would be dropped off on the same street as the Genesis Institute. She hoped that whatever the doctor told her, it included more of that blue drug that gave her sweet dreams and a pleasant taste in her mouth.
Cee Cee had been to the women’s detention facility a few times to visit her best friend, but Quinne would not have her. This time, she noticed the inmate from afar, dawdling about the yard. When Cee Cee drew close enough to call her name, Quinne glowered back and said nothing. Her stare quieted everything conciliatory her friend could have thought. The bigger woman cornered Quinne and projected enough hostility to impose her will. “Sit or stand.”
Quinne did not speak, but cursed Cee Cee with an evil grimace. You turned me in.
“I commissioned a lawyer to speak with Kareza Noor and the judge regarding your release. Good behavior alone will get you reduced to 45 days.”
Wasting my time. Quinne crossed her arms and sulked.
“I identified your dealer and they caught him.”
You snitched? Her eyes widened.
She held a hand up. “It’s anonymous. But he turned on his supplier, who they’ve been trying to catch for a while.” Cee Cee’s voice bubbled. “Noor made a big deal out of it, so my lawyer negotiated an earlier release for you.”
When?
Cee Cee noticed the wonderment in her friend’s eyes. “Counting time already served. . .next Wednesday.”
Quinne contained her excitement with pursed lips. “Can I still enlist?”
“She talks!” Cee Cee snapped her fingers. “Expunged record! Yep. Forgot about that.”
“You didn’t have to do all that for me.”
“Yes I did. And you’re right. I haven’t been a good friend.”
Quinne swiped the corners of her eyes with the backs of her hands. “What do I owe you?”
“Well, you still have to behave for another week. Can you do that?”
“In
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