Dabbling in Danger

Take Me Home

Adeen

I jolt awake when my phone starts to buzz on the nightstand next to me. I grab it in a hurry and hit a button to silence the chime.

My chest tightens, it's Sunnyside Uprising facility.

What a stupid name.

I throw a quick glance at Malina. Her mouth rests slightly agape, she's fast asleep. I slowly sit up in bed and bring the phone to my ear.

"Hello?" I answer in a groggy whisper.

"Hi baby!" Squeals Tiana.

Eyebrows risen, I ease out of the bed and shuffle over to the bedroom door.

"H-hey," I stammer.

I look in Malina's direction again, she hasn't even budged. I sigh and slip out into the hall, head to the living room to sit on an ottoman.

"I've missed you so much baby," she gushes. "I'm so sorry for everything," she takes a stuttering breath.

Is she crying?

"I've been messing up for a really long time," her voice quivers. "But I want to make it right, I want to live in a right mind. I can't keep being so, so destructive."

She falls silent, probably waiting on a response from me.

"I'm uh, I'm happy to hear you say that."

I know I don't sound the most enthused. I'm honestly just surprised.

I hear sniffling on her end, she sighs.

"I know when we last spoke, I wasn't the easiest person to talk to... Shit who am I kidding, I was a real bitch to you, I shouldn't have lashed out."

I bring a hand to my head, "don't worry about that. I know you were frustrated and nervous about everything going on."

I look up from my toes to the hallway again.

More sniffling on Tiana's end.

"Yeah, I was... But I've been thinking about something... I know I'll be leaving to come home in a week."

My stomach lurches, she goes on.

"But I don't know if I'm ready, you know. I uh, the more that I think about it, I don't think I have the willpower to just pass up alcohol if I see it."

I take a breath, my hand goes to my nape.

"How do you want to go about this? Do you want to stay longer?" I ask.

"I do actually," she says. "That's what I was kinda getting around to... At least another month."

I feel like I can breathe again. Wow has she grown, I feel my lips pull into a smile.

"Whatever you need Tiana. Wow... I'm really proud of you, it sounds like you're serious about this."

I can tell she's smiling too.

"I am so serious. I need to get better and I'm so happy to have your support."

"Of course."

"Oh!" She exclaims. "They said if I do plan to extend, I can have visitors! You can come see me next week. I asked if I was allowed to leave during visitation, but that was a no go."

"Probably to prevent people from sneaking stuff in and out."

"Yeah, that's what my counselor said. Apparently people are still able to get drugs and whatnot in here anyway. I don't know how, they damn near strip search you every other day."