My Safe Heaven

Chp 2

^ Nia

Ryan Leblanc
Jumping out of my sleep I panted and tried to quickly regulate my breathing , turning toward my night stand I pulled the draw piece out and sat it on the bed .. throwing things around I grabbed for my inhaler and gave myself too big pumps , sitting against the wall I wiped my forehead and chest that was coated in sweat .. grabbing my phone I turned it on to read the time 5:45 shaking my head I dropped the phone on the bed and looked around the empty dark room , I wasn't a stranger to this happening I was more than familiar to this unsettling feeling that taunted me .

Laying on my side I crawled into fetal position and held myself slowly while rocking , occasionally outside looking in my life was always painted out to be some perfect tale .. but it was far from that yes I've accomplished a lot but the hunger that I endured prior to doing so haunts me gradually , I get labeled as strong and independent but the inner me knows the persona I forecast , and as long as I know I don't see me ever being completely at peace ..

Before I lived in Atlanta I lived in Mississippi it was only me and my mama and trying to get by on her salary was rough .. not to mention the physical and mental abuse we both endured at the hands of my sperm donor .. well up until she got a better offer within her company , accepting said offer is how we were able to move and escape our pass .. at least so I thought I was in the tenth grade when we moved which led me to leave behind a lot more than an abusive father half of which my own mother doesn't even know ..

Closing my eyes and opening them again I slipped out my bed and walked toward the kitchen , looking toward the front door I looked at the locks and did the same to the back door something I did routinely .. walking toward the cabinet I grabbed a cup out of it .. slipping through my fingers it hit the floor making a loud thud .

"Girl I liked to had whooped you so good with this bat." Nia spoke peaking out her door

"I'm sorry I couldn't sleep." I spoke sitting the cup on the counter

Walking out her room she sat the bat against the wall and took a seat in one of the chairs that sat near the island .

"Another dream ?" She spoke looking at me

Nodding my head yes I stepped back and took a seat on the side of her , Nia is someone I met when I started school in the A me and her are alike in many ways especially our background .. we clicked instantly which was rare for me being I never had friends let alone female friends , going into our junior year her folks put her out which resulted in her living with me and my mama .. and without a complain mama took her in and cared for her as she did me standing to her feet she grabbed the cup and put ice in it .. going toward to fridge she took out the juice and added it in the cup , going toward the cabinet we stored the vitamins in she added some powder magnesium and stirred it ..

"Drink" she spoke going back toward her room

Grabbing the cup I began to drink it slowly through the straw .. she been around for quite a few episodes and always helped me through them , I was more than appreciative to have her it's rare to find a friend like that trust me I know .. reentering the kitchen she sat back in her seat and pulled the blunt from behind her ear , lighting it up she pulled from it four times before passing it to me ..

"We got a new resident , he's around our age he seems so out of it like when I seen his eyes I thought of mine." I spoke shaking my head "I just hope he doesn't give the nurses a hard time while I'm out for this week."

"If he's around our age and he gotta be there he ain't gonna give it to them easy." She said standing up "Now we have to go to the shop in less then four hours , try to get you some more rest and will talk more about it when we aren't in this state."

Standing up as well I tapped the ashes off the roach and laid it on the counter walking toward my room I laid down and closed my eyes to attempt getting more sleep

**

"Damn I'm tired as fuck what the fuck." Nia spoke shutting the door behind us

It was now 8:30 and we both had just got dressed to head toward our tattoo shop , deciding to drive in one car I went and stood next to hers as she made her way over .. today felt sluggish I rather be at home in my bed with snacks while watching twilight for the a millionth time .. but we had stuff to handle at the shop .. tattooing was my part of the parlor while the other half was lash application setting and a hair salon that belonging to Nia , we called it ink strips this shop was a staple point most definitely ..

Pulling up she parked in her spot and shut the car off getting out we walked toward the back entrance .. unlocking it we made our way inside shutting the lights on in the process .

"How many appointments do you have?" She spoke looking across at me

"I have four appointments walk ins usually varies you know that tho how bout you?" I asked wiping my equipment down

"I have nine lash appointments hopefully no walk ins these nine are full sets bottom and tops." She spoke groaning

Giggling at her theatrics I looked down to pay attention to what I had going on at hand .. grabbing a handful of covered needles out the bin , I sat them down and got up to grab my phone that wouldn't stop ringing .. picking it up and answering it I hung up when nobody responded shrugging my shoulders and sitting the phone on the table I walked back toward my initial task ..

"All night long , sweet love all night long ." I hummed and swayed my body to Beyoncé blaring through the shop

Letting thoughts roam my head I couldn't stop thinking about the new residents and how he might be operating today .. I wondered what his story was and if he had any family any at all , I wondered why at his age he was faced with the obstacles he was faced with .. often it's the decisions we make and I had so many questions as to what decisions he made .

"Ry your 9:30 is here ." Nia yelled out pulling me from my thoughts

Walking up front I greeted the the young girl as well as who I'll assume is her mother , signing them in I walked them to back to start on the tattoo .

"What made you get into tattoos ?" The girl asked while I shaded parts of her tattoo

"It really started off as sketches I always drew to escape reality it was my safe haven , then as I got older I use to trace them on my skin in stead of paper . after doing so I got a tattoo kit for Christmas not an exciting story i know."I spoke chuckling while making sure I leave big parts out

"No that's dope ." She smiled

Wiping off the access I applied some ointment before I let her look at it stepping back I watched her and her mom gawk at it , with a slight grin on my face batting my eyelashes I cleared my throat to stop the tears from falling..

Not now not today ..

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