Paradise on Earth

HomeComing

I zipped up my cream suit case, and slipped off my assigned slippers and shoved on a pair of vans. I threw my long blonde hair into a messy bun at the top of my head, I looked into the mirror in front of me and pulled out a few face framing pieces down. I wore black sweats and my uncles old brown hoodie. 

I looked around at the room I've lived in for the past 3 months. White walls, white bed sheets, white empty book case, white chair. I let out a sigh and rolled my suitcase out of the room. 

I followed a tall lady with beautiful chocolate colored skin down the hall. On each side of the hall were rooms just like the mine. Room, after room, after room. 

We reached the end of the hall, the lady then opened a door and motioned for me to walk in. I left my suitcase outside the door, and walked into another white room. This time there was a large black desk in front of me, and furniture filled the room. 

I was greeted by the group leader, Lindsey. "Hi, Blake." She smiled an unnecessarily wide smile. I sat down in chair opposite of her, with the desk separating us. 

"Hey," I slumped in chair and used a monotone voice. 

Lindsey let out a sigh due to my body language. Then she recovered her smile, "You're going home today, huh? Isn't it exciting!?" She grinned. 

"Sure," I grouped, wanting to get this over with as quickly as possible. 

Lindsey reached into her drawer and grabbed a green pin, then returned her attention back to me. "I'm proud of your progress Blake, honestly." I nodded my head nonchalantly. "90 days sober, it's a big accomplishment! Don't throw it in the trash the moment you walk out of here." 

I nodded my head again and responded sarcastically, "Yes ma'am." I saluted two fingers to her. 

She sighed once more and reached out to hand me the pin. I took the pin and observed it for a moment. The words "90 DAYS" were placed largely on the pin in orange letters. 

I shoved the pin in my pocket and stood from the chair. "Nice knowing you Lindsey." I fake smiled and walked out of the white room. 

I grabbed my suit case and rolled it right out of this hell hole.

-

I'm Blake by the way. I've spent 90 days in rehab. Don't ask why I went, the story's too long. I have a brother, Austin, who is 16. My Mom died during Austins birth, and my dad also died 4 years ago. We were a normal family before our dad gave up on us. And by gave up on us I mean killing himself. So basically my life is a fucked up mess and I'm just trying to make the best of it, or something. 

-

The moment I stepped out of the rehabilitation center I saw my younger brother Austin. We both started running in each others direction the moment he shouted my name. I embraced him in a tight hug. 

"How are you?" Austin asked me, his voice was deeper then I remembered and he's taller. 

I hugged him even tighter as my face squished into his chest. "I'm good. Since when did you get so tall?!" I giggled letting go of the hug them lightly pushing his chest. "I wasn't gone for that long was I?" I quickly hugged him one more time. 

We let go of the hug as he responded, "I missed you, Blake. A lot." He tried to avoid the obvious that I was gone for a long time. 

Austin wrapped his arm around my shoulders and we walked to his truck that was parked across the street. "I missed you too," I ensured him. 

We drove through the OBX with the windows down and Austin's reggae music playing softly in the background. 

"I'm happy for you Blake, you get to start over now... No more Rafe, no more Kook parties, none of that shit." He tried to parent me. 

I let his words sink in, and I didn't respond. I stared out the window and slightly tilted my head to feel the wind blowing on my face. I love this part of the drive. We drove along side the ocean, I watch the waves crash on the beach and felt somewhat at peace. 

If I really want to find my peace of mind, I'm gonna need to take something first. 

-

We turned onto the rock pathway to our house. Austin parked the truck next to my 1969 olive green Ford Bronco. Oh, how I missed my bronco. I hopped out of the truck and pulled my suit case out of the back seat. 

I wobbled carrying my suitcase to the front of the house. Austin held the front door open for me and I walked into my home. 

Austin grinned, "Welcome home, B."

I let out a sigh of relief, I was finally home and away from the hell hole. I walked through the living room and turned into a hall that led to my bed room. I opened the door and I immediately felt the comfort of my homey feeling room. 

I had posters of artists that I loved filling the walls. My favorite part of my room was the back left corner, my record station. It had an old 1978 record player sitting on a small table and shelf that reached the ceiling filled with vinyls. I had every genre of music in my collection, reggae, old rock, 90's rap, alternative, indie, classical, anything you could think of was probably in my collection. 

I grabbed a vinyl from off the shelf. I placed the record on the record player and let the music play while I unpacked my suitcase. Once I finished unpacking, I put on a swimming suit. The suit was navy blue with orange lining. After I pulled that on, I threw on jean shorts and an oversized tee-shirt. 

I then packed my signature small yellow purse, I placed my wallet, my phone, earbuds, and a 3 condoms in the purse. Just in case. I also quickly threw in a small lotion sunscreen in the purse then walked out of my bed room. 

I knocked on Austins bedroom door and he invited me in. I only peaked my head through the door and said, "Imma gonna go out, I might go surf or something." I lied. 

Austin nodded his head, "Will you be back tonight?" He was over protective of me and wanted to know where I was all the time. My incident made it 10 times worse. 

"I don't know, I'll text you or something." I then closed his bedroom door and walked out of the house. 

-

I drove through the cut with my windows down and music playing softly. The drive to the trailer park was short. It only took ten minutes for me to pull in to the trailer park. I grabbed my purse and jumped out of the bronco and ensured that the car was locked. I might be a druggie but I'm not dumb. 

I walked into the only house in the trailer park. I found my close friend Jasper sitting on the couch smoking a joint.  "Yo, Blake! When did you get back?" Jasper spoke with a raspy voice. 

"Hour or so ago." I grinned dabbing him up. 

He then rubbed his hand on the back of his neck, "N, how was it? Like rehab n shit?" 

"Pretty good. Once I gave myself to the Lord and Savior, my life has been turned upside down you know." I looked at the floor and nodded my head, trying to hide my smirk. 

"That's the breaks dawg." Jasper awkwardly responded to me. 

I chuckled and slapped his knee, "I'm just fucking with you Jas." 

"Oh, oh, yeah. You know whatever you say, I'll support." He let out a soft chuckle and raised his hands in surrender. 

I looked towards the back of the house and turned back to Jasper. "Yo, but lowkey is Barry in the back?" 

"Are you serious?" Jasper lightly chuckled again. He was stoned out of his mind, it was easy to tell. 

I started walking backwards to the back room, "Hey, just cause I went to rehab doesn't mean I stayed sober." I shrugged my shoulders and smirked.