Choices by Skyy

was frail; the drug usage had worn her body.
    Tammy looked at Lena. “Hi, I’m Tammy, Denise’s mom.”
    â€œOh, I am Lena. I’m her roommate.” Tammy’s eyes widened.
    â€œSo you the roommate. You wanna get some coffee with me?”
    They headed down to the cafeteria. Lena didn’t know what to think of Tammy.
    â€œYou know, me and Denise ain’t close. I hate it, but it’s true. I been messed up awhile with thangs, but I’m getting my life together now.”
    â€œI understand.” Lena just agreed, she really didn’t understand. She came from a very wealthy family; her mother and father were still together and very happy. Denise was the first less fortunate person she’d been close to.
    â€œI hate that my baby been through so much ’cause of me. The rest of the family, they fucking assholes, treat her like shit ’cause she special. You know she is the first in our family to go to college?”
    Tammy added sugar to her coffee.
    â€œUm, yeah, she told me. Denise is very special.” Lena headed to the vending machine.
    â€œYes, she is. Damn shame what that girl did to her. Made her so hard now.”
    Lena knew something had happened in Denise’s past. She always wondered why she never dated anyone.
    â€œOh, I didn’t know about any girl—”
    â€œYeah, some girl she fell in love with. She did my baby wrong because she didn’t know what she wanted. Denise has never given another girl the time of day, well, until you.”
    Lena stopped in her tracks. Did she hear Tammy right?
    â€œI’m sorry. What do you mean, until me. Um, do you think me and Denise are dating?”
    â€œNo. I know you’re not. You got a boyfriend, right, football player.”
    â€œBasketball.”
    â€œYeah, see, that’s what concerns me. Denise finally likes someone, and it’s a girl that she will never have.”
    Lena started to feel funny. Could Tammy be telling the truth? Did Denise have a crush on her?
    â€œUm, ma’am, I assure you, I don’t think you’re right about this. Denise has never expressed anything to me, and we are just friends.”
    â€œIf that’s what you think. Just as long as you make sure to keep that clear, maybe she won’t fall anymore for you.”
    â€œI really don’t think it’s anything like that. Has Denise said this to you?” Lena had to know if there was any truth to what was being said.
    â€œNo, she hasn’t, but when your name is brought up, I see the way she looks. I know she likes you, much more than she will ever say.” Tammy grabbed another cup. “Let me get my baby some coffee.”
    â€œOh no. Denise doesn’t drink coffee; I got her an apple juice.”
    That statement made Tammy look up. “Well, you sure do know her very well, I see.”
    â€œWell, we are roommates.”
    â€œI guess so.”
    They headed back to the elevator.
    â€œSo, are you sure that you are completely all about your boyfriend?”
    Lena really didn’t want to answer the question; the whole conversation was making her very uneasy.
    â€œYes, ma’am. I’m more than sure that we are getting married.”
    â€œGood. Well, please remember that, because I don’t want my baby getting hurt. I think she has been through enough without adding the drama of a curious girl trying to make her into her own little experiment.”
    Lena didn’t respond, she just looked at Tammy.
    They made it down the hall just in time to see the nurses bringing the machines out of Mema’s room.
    Denise walked out of the room. She looked drained. She laid her head against the wall.
    Lena’s heart was breaking looking at her roommate in so much pain.
    â€œDenise.” Lena put her hand on Denise’s shoulder.
    Denise turned around and looked at her.
    â€œI am sorry for keeping you out so early in the morning, but if it’s possible,