Sane

chapter 9

August 13,2016
Brookhaven,New York

Niya POV

Niya woke up the next morning, the sunlight streaming through the window, illuminating the room. She felt big, strong arms wrapped around her, and for the first time in a long while, she felt safe and not alone. Gently, she shook Dezmon, trying to rouse him from his sleep. He stirred slightly but didn't fully wake up.

"Dezmon," she whispered, a little more insistently this time. Still no response.

Determined, she shook him again, and this time he moved his arm, allowing her to slip out from under his embrace. "Where's the restroom?" she asked quietly.

"Down the hall, towards the left," he mumbled, still half-asleep.

"Thanks," she replied, feeling a mix of gratitude and warmth as she padded out of the room. As she walked down the hallway, her heart felt heavy with everything that had happened, but there was also a flicker of comfort in knowing Dezmon was there for her.

After taking care of herself, she returned to find him sitting up in bed, rubbing his eyes. "Hey, you okay?" he asked, concern etched on his face.

"Yeah, just needed a minute," Niya said softly. "Thanks for letting me stay."

"Anytime," he replied with a reassuring smile. "Let's grab some breakfast and figure out what we're doing today."

Niya nodded, feeling a little lighter as they shared a moment of understanding. In that small space of time, she realized that maybe she could start to heal—one day at a time—with Dezmon by her side.

*After Breakfast*

Niya sat on the edge of the bed, feeling the familiar weight of a depressive episode settling over her. Her thoughts were clouded, and she felt a profound sense of hopelessness and fatigue. The events of the past few days had taken a toll, and now it seemed like every ounce of energy had been drained from her body.

She tried to shake off the feeling, but it clung to her, making even simple tasks feel insurmountable. Dezmon noticed her change in demeanor and asked gently, "Hey, are you okay?"

Niya hesitated before responding, "I think I'm having one of those episodes again. Everything just feels... heavy."

Dezmon nodded, understanding the gravity of her words. "Let's take it easy today," he suggested. "We can stay in, watch some movies, or just talk if you want."

I appreciated his patience and support. "Thanks," she said softly. "I'd like that."

As they settled into a quiet morning together,I felt grateful for Dezmon's presence. It didn't erase the darkness of my mood, but knowing I wasn't alone made it a little more bearable.

Dezmon had to make another drop, so he turned to Niya and said, "I'll be right back, okay?"

I nodded "Can you pick up my medicine from the pharmacy ."

"Sure ."said Dezmon as he walks out the front door locking it

Niya got up and decided to tidy up a bit, hoping the activity might help clear her mind. As she moved around the room, she stumbled upon a bag full of weed tucked away in a corner. She froze, staring at it in disbelief.

Questions began to swirl in her mind. Was Dezmon selling drugs? Was he a dealer? She had never imagined him being involved in something like this. Her heart raced as she tried to make sense of it all.

She trusted Dezmon and appreciated everything he had done for her, but this discovery left her feeling unsettled. Niya wondered how much she really knew about him and what this meant for their relationship. She wanted to talk to him about it when he returned, needing to understand the truth behind what she had found.