Just As I Am

Twenty Four

Soon enough, I was introduced to drugs and alcohol. Hiding it from Dad was very wasy because we didn't really talk to each other. Preston had told me we were doing something different on Friday night. I was excited and during the week, I kept thinking of what we would do because honestly, I was tired of doing the same old thing on Friday nights. Watching movies, drinking, playing board games and drinking again.

Before I knew it, Friday night finally arrived. We got into Preston's car and headed towards our destination , wherever it was. I was so excited! Finally, something different! I was disappointed when we arrived at our destination. The school.

What in the world were we doing at the school? Preston, Keith and Annie assured me that everything was okay and that they were just going to get a few things from the school which they had left. I wondered what they were going to take at that time of night but I didn't say anything. Then, they told wait outside for them.
I reluctantly obeyed their order.

The night was chilly and I was grateful that I had decided to bring a jacket along with me. It kept me warm but I still felt like I was freezing to death. After standing there for what seemed like hours, I heard the sound of a police siren. At first, I thought I was hallucinating, but when I saw the police cars approaching, I knew that I was seeing clearly. The policeman quickly came out of the car and handcuffed me.

As much as I wanted to run away, I stood rooted to the spot.

"Young lady, what are you doing here at this time of the night?" the policeman who handcuffed me asked.

I ignored his question and watched eagerly as two of the policemen went into the school to search for my friends. In a couple of minutes, they appeared without them. My heart sank. Where were they when I needed them most?

"We couldn't find them. They've escaped", one of the policemen said.

"Escaped?" I asked.

"You're coming with me, young lady!" the other policeman told me.

"Let me go!" I shouted, kicking and screaming.

They held me tight and shoved me into the police car. I tried my best to fight so I could escape but I couldn't. After lots of struggling, I finally gave up and sat in the police car. What did the policeman mean that they escaped? Where were they? What were the police doing there? What was going on? These questions were going through my mind as we were on the way to the police station.