Somebody To Live For: Book II

Long Way From Home

Calvary Deliverance Shelter Schedule
Shelter Breakfast Time 6:30am
Morning Worship Time 8:00am
Counseling Time 9:00am - 6:00pm
Shelter Lunch Time 12:00pm
Afternoon Worship Time 2:00pm
Shelter Dinner Time 6:00pm
Shelter Desert Time 7:00pm
Shelter Lights Out 11:00pm
Sunday Church Service 10:00am

"Hey, what you doing?"

Omari sneaked up on me, poking my side.

"Im just reading the schedule, they are really organized" I said in awe

"This is one of the best shelters in Carolina, they rarely accept anyone here"

"So how did you get in here?" I asked and he frowned.

"You tell me first..." he said

The lady from the hospital helped me get in here, she knew someone who volunteered and they hooked me up. But I wasn't sure if I was truly willing to tell Omar that. I mean I just met him. The last time I trusted a man too fast, he pimped me out and gave me HIV.

"Maybe another time, I'm starving" I said to delay that conversation.

"Breakfast smells good"

They had a self serve buffet style breakfast set up in the auditorium. Pancakes, eggs, bacon, tuna, sausage and grits with refreshing lemonade and fruit salad. This honestly felt like heaven. Not to mention, the staff here was super sweet.

I got my plate and of course Omar and I sat together. We almost got off on the wrong foot but look at us now.

"How many shelters have you been too, if you dont mind me asking?"

"Well Ive honestly been in shelters my entire life..."

"What do you mean?"

"My mother was a crack head who sold her body, my father was murdered before I was born, and Ive been in the system since the age of eight. My grandmother tried to get me out but she was raising eight of her grand kids already. Four of them being my siblings. She couldn't financially keep all of us so eventually one by one, we were sent to live in the system. Ive gained and lost many friends to gang banging, but I always wanted more for myself. Im studying at a community college on a full scholarship. I always tried my best to get good grades. Im about to graduate in a few months with my bachelor's in Performing Arts. I play five instruments and conduct music. I can sing and act, one day I will audition for Tyler Perry and trust me, I will get the job" he said and I smiled.

He said all of that so casually as if his past didn't even bother him.

"And before you say anything, do not say 'I'm so sorry that happened to you.' Its life, things happen. Some people are given shitty parents" he shrugged which made me even sadder but so proud of him.

"Well, my story is nowhere as sad as yours" I sighed.

"Really? Let me hear it"

"Well I don't know my father, but My sisters dad came into our lives and raised us as his own. But before him, My mother always dated assholes and one of them molested my twin. We were always close but after that, he changed. He tried taking his life and that really affected me. He got counseling and everything but nobody ever asked if I was okay. My sister was kidnapped and the guy really tried to hurt her. She got counseling but once again, nobody ever asked if I was okay. So I just deal with the trauma in my own way by shutting people out. Then I met this guy while working at McDonalds part time. He was so sweet and nice to me. He was my first love. He used me for sex, eventually selling me to other men and using me for porn. Now I'm pregnant with HIV"