I’m so lost
The First Day
I had no clue really what was going on then the CO said I was going to rehab… REHAB!?!? I didn’t sign up for this. What was I going to do? I had like 5 days of jail time left and I would be free, what did I get myself into? A flash of a what seemed like a long ago memory. I had been told in court that I could sign up for rehab Or serve 2 weeks. I had asked about rehab and was told rehabs would come in and talk to me. No body came in and spoke to me about their services.
I just started crying. What was going on…
I was dressed and pointed to another room. There was a group of people waiting and the only male in the group spoke my name. I didn’t know at this point but this is Tye. he was a huge guy. I’m not ashamed to say but his size scared me. Where was this really big scary guy taking me? I asked and was told that I would be going to Rise Up Recovery in Lancaster. I still had no information I knew I was going to a rehab and I was out of jail after being there for about 25 days.
So many thoughts where running through my head. I was thinking ok this can’t be to bad. Maybe a month of rehab and I would be out of here. What did I get myself into? We drove around, now that I’m thinking about it, it’s all just a complete mess in my head. But it seems like we just drove around and we went to what I now know is their office in Lancaster. I was asked if I had any cigarettes, I didn’t have any cigarettes, of course. My first time in 25 days that I’m being allowed to smoke and I don’t have one. I was showed a bench and told to wait there. A few minutes later Tye returns with a cigarette and a lighter and I was shown an area off to the side of the building. This is the area that I didn’t know at the time but I would be spending 15 minutes Of every hour of half my day at. I took a seat and took hit, I got so dizzy but it didn’t stop me from smoking the whole cigarette. I had a short conversation with Tye, he was actually really nice. This made me feel a little better. He explained to me that he was a new employee there and if I had any questions he would try to answer them or get the answers for me. I don’t think I had a lot of questions at this point. Which thinking about it is really weird. I had a ton of questions. A women appears to my side, she introduced herself as Kristen Burkley I would get to know her as Kristen B even though in the rehab she had several nicknames, one of my favorite being Cindy Lauper. I will explain that one later on.
Cindy Lauper would definitely become well known to me.
We all three got back in the car and we drove to the house that I would be my home. One of three rehab houses they had. This house was right in the middle of a bunch of trap houses. I was taken upstairs and set at their kitchen table. Where a computer got dragged out. I asked if I could get a drank of something, preferably a soda of some kind. I ended up with a glass of sweet tea. It was the best tea I’ve ever had. I chugged it as they explained to me that they had to get me into their system. Great another system I would be put into. They slowly asked me my information and Tye was slowly led by Kristen B on how to In put this information. I’m guessing I was the first person he had done this with. While he finished up Kristen B ran around and explained to me she was gathering all my stuff that I would need. My bedding and shampoo and body wash. I also received a blue and green sweat suit out fit.
After I was done with Tye I was led to the bathroom where I was told I could shower. I had to strip completely in front of Kristen B. Something I would have to do a few more times during my stay with Rise Up Recovery. I started the shower and in front of Kristen B prepared for my shower. I don’t know how many of you have been to jail, but a jail shower is not a time for enjoyment. It’s very uncompromising and not really a time for escaping your day.
This shower was amazing!! It was so hot and the best part, I was able to shave. After I dressed in my new green and black outfit, an outfit who knows how many others had wore. I asked about a phone call. I mean even when you are imprisoned you get one call.
I got my 15 minute intake phone call. A phone call that I soon found out not everyone gets. I didn’t know at the time but I should feel very lucky that I received my intake call. I called my husband Bobby, we will call him Bobby. In case you haven’t figured it out yet Im using real names and locations. I explained to him where I was and he asked me the question I kept forgetting to ask. How long is the program? Oh yea I had no clue I just assumed I would be there a month or less. I mean I had less then a week in jail before I would be free.
I yelled into the kitchen, I was standing in what I would later find out was one of their group rooms.
How long do I have to be here? Kristen B yelled back to me an answer I was not expecting.
90 days.
I repeated to Bobby what she had just told me.
I got dizzy!
He was shocked!
But I thought you told be you had less then a week to go.
I really didn’t know what to say. 3 months. 3 months!
I told him I did, I didn’t know what was going on? How did I go from less then a week to 90 days.
I was later told that it was a 90 day program minimum that I could be held there for 120 days. I was also told that it wasn’t a cookie cutter program. That it was based on your individual needs.
The first of many lies I was told.