Saved By Steven (finished)

27. Another Friendly Saviour

The first week in rehab passed slowly. With some days better than others. Lauren didn't share with the group, she just sat, smoked and listened. She didn't do a lot of activities because she was tired and depressed. This last round of detox had taken a toll.

She told Steven she couldn't do it again, and she meant it. The sharing, the prayers, the talking, listening, therapy and confrontation was too much for Lauren to handle. She knew all this by heart. She knew how to live by the rules, but the drugs were there when nobody else was. To Lauren drugs were what chocolate is to most women on their period. Vodka? Well vodka was the one thing she grew up with and she had no intention of quitting the drink.

Every other weekend the facility had a family day or family weekend. This weekend was one of those. Lauren didn't look forward to it. Everybody had family coming over, which meant happy faces and laughter and Sydney. Lauren had not invited anybody. Why should she? She wasn't going to share her pain, her problems and certainly not her reasons for taking an overdose.

On Saturday morning, around 10, the first families started to arrive. Lauren sat in the eating and relaxation area near the reception desk. She saw the families come in. One family was happy to see their loved one, the other family was anxious or distant. While some people may find this an interesting spectacle, Lauren didn't. She sat and stared in the distance. That is, until she heard a voice say her name.

She looked up and saw a man with black hair, ruffled shirt that wasn't buttoned up, ripped pants and old biker boots. She was dressed in an oversized shirt Steven had given her, baggy sweat pants, flip flops and a big scarf that felt like home. The receptionist pointed in Laurens direction and the man walked over.

"Hello, baby girl." The man said.
"Hi." Lauren said. She couldn't believe that the man had come.
"You look comfortable." He smiled.
"I wish I felt like it." Lauren said.
"I'm so sorry." The man said and he enveloped Lauren in a warm hug.
"It's okay. It's not your fault, it's mine."
"No, it's not."
The duo was interrupted by a second man joining the group.

"Hey, Steven! I didn't know you were coming today." The first man said.
"Well, look what the cat dragged in here." Steven smiled. "Joe, how nice of you to come. I've been here almost every day."

Lauren didn't let go of Joe. She had wrapped her arms around him and stood in front of him, head against his chest. Joe was the brother she wished she had had.
"Hey baby, you good?" Steven asked.
"Fine." Lauren said.
"Listen, I've got to go and talk to your doctor. You two good over here?"
"Yeah, we'll go out into the garden." Joe said.

Steven walked away and Joe took Lauren to the garden. She didn't let go of him. She walked beside him, her arm around his waist and head bouncing on his shoulder. They sat down in the grass near the water and Joe lit a cigarette.

"Brought you some supplies." Joe said and gave Lauren a small plastic bag. She opened it and saw cigarettes, gum, a picture of Joe and her, guitar picks and Joe's perfume bottle.

"Thank you." Lauren said and gave Joe a big hug.

"I thought you needed some memories from the tour. And I know you like to smell my perfume bottle, crazy." Joe smiled and laid down on the grass. He pulled Lauren next to him and she didn't put up a struggle.