Wings From Ashes Trilogy
Page 45
Karla got so worried about Neil that she even broke down and asked her dad what could possibly be wrong with Neil. He told her there could be many factors, but he was sure it didn’t have anything to do with her.
Then after going to Neil’s house every weekend for the past month in May Karla finally asked Neil’s mom what could possibly be wrong with her son.
“He always gets upset when his dad is deployed overseas,” she replied.
It never dawned on Karla that his dad hadn’t been around for the past month. She suddenly felt awful. No wonder he was down.
Before going home that night when they stood in each other’s arms beside the pool table Karla finally said, “I didn’t know your dad was deployed. Why didn’t you say something?”
“Because I should know by now that it is our way of life. He has always been getting deployed, and I should be used to it by now.”
“But still, you could have said something to me. Now I know why you are feeling down. I was beginning to think it had something to do with me.”
Neil pulled her close to him. “Don’t you ever think that – you are my everything – don’t worry this feeling I have will pass. It always does. Every time, in the beginning, I just miss him. That’s all…”
Two weeks later Neil’s uncle Conner came over to the house. The way he looked made Neil nervous thinking that maybe something had happened to his dad. He overheard his uncle talking to his mom.
“Did you tell him yet?”
“No, I haven’t.” His mom replied, “I’ve been worried. What if this isn’t the right thing to do? What if he hates us for this?”
Neil didn’t like what he was hearing. It sounded as if…
“Mom, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing hun.”
“You two are acting kind of funny. Your making me worried. Is there something wrong with dad?”
His mom and his uncle looked at each other before his uncle said, “Just tell him and see what he says.”
“Your dad has been re-stationed. This time in Germany. We will be living on base there starting September.”
“Mom, why? We just moved here.”
“Neil you know that all this is beyond our control.” She turned to Conner and said, “See I told you he was going to react this way. He likes it here.”
“So you have a problem with this Neil?” his uncle asked.
“What about me and Karla? And I thought you said I would be graduating from this school. You said we wouldn’t be moving anymore.”
“It can’t be helped Neil. But listen to what your Uncle has to say.”
“Neil, we have decided on a solution. Your dad has already given his okay. You can stay with me.”
Neil looked at his mom. This meant that his mom was planning on going on without him.
“So it is up to you to decide. You have the option to stay with Uncle Conner or come to Germany with your dad and me. It’s your choice.”
Neil had never felt so torn inside. He didn’t want to leave Karla behind, but he wasn’t sure if he was ready to be apart from his mom and dad. “How long do I have to decide?”
“I will be leaving to be with your dad the last week in June. You do know that if it doesn’t work out between you and your Uncle you can still come to Germany. You can always change your mind.”
“Give me a day or two to think it through.”
Later on that night Neil saw Karla. Seeing her was all he had to do to make up his mind. He wanted to be with her. That was what his promise ring was all about. It was his promise to her that he would never leave her side.
He didn’t tell her right away about his upcoming living arrangements, at least, not until the end of the month when she discovered their personal items were being packed up.
“Neil are you moving?”
“Yeah, we’re moving.”
“Why didn’t you say something to me? How far away are you moving?” Karla’s voice shook.
Neil pulled her into his arms. “You are worrying about nothing.”
“But Neil, you’re moving.”
He laughed. “I’m moving closer to you.”
“Huh?”
“I’m going to go live with my Uncle Conner.”
“Why?”
“My dad has been stationed in Germany. My mom has decided to go there to be with him. I don’t blame her. They decided that I can stay here in Brantwood and live with my Uncle Conner.” Neil took Karla’s hand with the promise ring on it and kissed the back of her hand. “When I gave you this ring, it was my promise that I would never leave you.”
Karla still didn’t know what her promise to Neil was. Maybe it was to love him, she wasn’t sure. She wrapped her arms around him and held him close. “Thank you for coming into my life.”
Her life had changed so much since Neil came along. Suddenly her promise dawned on her. She would always do what was right, and the right thing to do was to always love Neil.
“I promise to always love you Neil, you are the best thing that has ever happened to me.” Karla said.
####
Afterword
Date rape happens more than people realize. It most likely will not happen the way it happened to Karla, but it still does happen. Normally the assailant is someone the victim knows and trusts.
Below is a short list of commonly used date rape drugs that have become the rave at dance clubs. They are also known as club drugs and are used for more than just date rape. Some of these drugs are used as recreational drugs by teens and young adults.
Over doses do and can happen, and they can be accidental. These drugs like all drugs are dangerous. Their side effects alone can cause serious damage to the internal organs, like the liver and kidneys, not to mention the heart. Mixed with other substances and they can become very deadly.
Ecstasy:
This can be known on the street by many different names ranging from X, XTC, E, Beans, the hug drug and Adam.
Ecstasy is found in pill or powder form and is used by users looking to exploit its effects that include feelings of euphoria and enhanced energy. It acts as both a stimulant and psychedelic, and is commonly used at concerts, clubs, and all-night dance parties called “raves”.
Ecstasy users do face several adverse consequences, which include cognitive, physical, and psychological effects.
If taken in high doses, it can impair the body’s temperature regulation, which causes increased body temperature, this can result in kidney, liver, and cardiovascular failure, and even worst cases, death. Short-term effects are like those of other stimulants, such as increased heart rate and blood pressure, involuntary teeth clenching, nausea, chills, and blurred vision. The adverse psychological effects can cause depression, sleep disruption, and anxiety. Additional risks are found, when ingesting additional chemicals that may have been added to its mix and sold as MDMA. These chemicals can include stimulants such as Ephedra, caffeine, methamphetamine, and Ketamine. Adding this just the chemical MDMA alone is hazardous. If users mix this alcohol and marijuana, they face further risk.
http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drugs_concern/
Gamma Hydroxybutyric acid:
This is also known as Liquid Ecstasy, Liquid X, GHB, Georgia Home Boy, Easy Lay, and G.
GHB has become very popular among teens in the past few years. It has been known to be among one of the common date rape drugs. Originally used only to treat narcolepsy, this drug has found its way on to the streets. It is gaining its popularity at dance clubs and “raves”.
In its common form, which is liquid, it is colorless and has a mild salty taste.
High doses of this substance can cause an overdose resulting in unconsciousness, seizures, slowed heart rate, severe respiratory depression, decreased body temperature, vomiting, nausea, coma or death. It can also inhibit the gag reflex causing the person to choke and die on their vomit.
Sustained usage can lead to addiction.
Currently there is no antidote for an overdose. Th
e most common cause of death with this drug is respiratory arrest. Mixing this drug with alcohol or other drugs can increase the chances of this happening in the individual.
According to the US Department of Justice – Drug Enforcement Administration, it is a chemical of concern.
http://www.higheredcenter.org/high-risk/drugs/info
Rohypnol:
Street name consist of Rophy, Ruffles, Roofies, Ruffies, Ruff Up, Rib, Roach 2, R2, R2-Do-U, Roche, Rope, Ropies, Circles, Circes, Forget It, Forget-Me-pill, Mexican Valium
This is a sedative that is only prescribed in Europe and Mexico as a sleep aid and anesthetic. It has the same effect to Valium, but is 10 times stronger.
With use, the user can feel sedated, intoxicated, relaxed and uninhibited for up to as much as 12 hours. This drug is sometimes used in conjunction with heroin, marijuana, or alcohol to increase the sedation. It is often taken in pill form, but to get a quick high, sometimes it is snorted or injected.
The use of Rohypnol can make the users unconscious and can cause amnesia. This makes them unable to remember what happened while they were using this chemical. Sexual assaults are commonly committed while the user is under its effects.
The company which makes Rohypnol added a blue dye to the tablets to create better detection when dissolved in drinks, but if put in blue drinks, the tablet is undetected.
Rohypnol can lower blood pressure and relax muscles. It may even nausea, dizziness, headaches, confusion, problems with the gastrointestinal system, and even problems with motor skills. All of these effects are increased if combined with alcohol or any other drugs.
Overdose results in respiratory depression, coma, and death. This normally happens when this drug is taken with alcohol.
A very addictive drug, sudden withdrawal of Rohypnol can lead to anxiety, insomnia, seizures, and psychosis.
More information on this substance can be found on the site.
http://www.drugs.com/rohypnol.html
Bath Salts
Bath Salt is an extremely dangerous designer drug that has recently been sold legally from specialty stores in the past few years up until recently. Apparently it can still be found over the internet and is still being sold in other countries without regard to the outcome of the individual who uses the substance.
When store owners were approached they hid behind the statement that the substance was not being sold for human consumption, but they also knew otherwise. Some stores even tried to claim that they were not selling the item to those under a certain age, but with a few news reporters disguising themselves, they found out otherwise that this product was still being sold to anyone regardless of their age.
This substance not only goes by the name Bath Salts, but it also goes by several different names internationally. They are Plant Food, Cloud 9, Ivory Wave, Purple Wave, Vanilla Sky, and Bliss. These are just a few of the many names it goes by.
Why is this substance so dangerous?
The most common problem may people experience with this substance is excited delirium. They find themselves in a state of paranoia and rage that can’t be controlled without some kind of force. Other times they experience paranoia, vomiting, an extremely rapid heartbeat and a sense of doom where they believe they are going to die.
Emergency Medical Technicians say it is a bad state that these people are in when they have to respond to a call involving this substance.
Many of the usual drugs that are used to treat psych patients do not work for those who are experiencing any of the above problems associated with this substance.
At times, the subjects may be tasered by law enforcement, to control the individual, but this tends to be extremely dangerous, due to the stress they are going through from the struggle. Many times law enforcement will shoot first and ask later.
Even when the individual stops using the substance they can be permanently left with paranoia and suicidal thoughts. Most of which do eventually successfully commit suicide.
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Table of Contents
Acknowledgement
Friends of Choice
Chapter ~ 1
Chapter ~ 2
Chapter ~ 3
Chapter ~ 4
Chapter ~ 5
Chapter ~ 6
Chapter ~ 7
Chapter ~ 8
Chapter ~ 9
Chapter ~ 10
Chapter ~ 11
Chapter ~ 12
Chapter ~ 13
Chapter ~ 14
Chapter ~ 15
Chapter ~ 16
Chapter ~ 17
Chapter ~ 18
Chapter ~ 19
Chapter ~ 20
Chapter ~ 21
Chapter ~ 22
Chapter ~ 23
Chapter ~ 24
Chapter ~ 25
Chapter ~ 26
Chapter ~ 27
Chapter ~ 28
Chapter ~ 29
Chapter ~ 30
Road Salt
DEDICATION
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Chapter 1 – Please Forgive Me
Chapter 2– Hello, 911?
Chapter 3– Game On
Chapter 4– Crash and Grab
Chapter 5– How Could You?
Chapter 6– Not Mine
Chapter 7– Meet Me at the Basketball Court
Chapter 8– Something Else to Do
Chapter 9– Pit Stop
Chapter 10 – Lessons in Car Hopping
Chapter 11 – Means to Feed the Need
Chapter 12 – Storm Warnings
Chapter 13 – Motoring out the Storm
Chapter 14 – Surviving the Party
Chapter 15 – We Stole a Car?
Chapter 16 – You can’t take me alive
Chapter 17 – Have you seen my Daughter?
Chapter 18 – Booked
Chapter 19 – Why?
Chapter 20 – Forgive or Forget
Chapter 21 – A Change of Attitude
Chapter 22 – Bad News
Chapter 23 – Homeward Bound
Chapter 24 – Hated or Forgiven
Epilogue
Along Came Neil
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Afterword
Ecstasy:
Gamma Hydroxybutyric acid:
Rohypnol:
Bath Salts
Other Titles by Linda Nelson