Chapter 4
"I'm gonna go and get you a book to read ok? I'll be right back." Erin smiled, patting the woman on the shoulder before walking off. Turning she made her way towards the back of the room and over to the two large bookshelves that held hundreds of books, scanning through them. It was a relatively quiet day, they hadn't had any new women today and mostly it was just a relaxed day. They'd have meetings a little later with the counselor that worked there with any of the newer women then a separate meeting for the women who'd been there for six months or longer.
Occasionally Erin liked to sit on some of the meetings and offer help when she could. The things she heard always made her so glad she'd never been in situations like that and that she had such a good relationship with her family. Every so often though, there was someone who didn't want her there, didn't think she was qualified and didn't want to talk in front of her if she wasn't a certified counselor. It hurt, but she understood and left the room without argument.
And it was situations like that, that had caused her to go back to school, to become a professional counselor. She wasn't upset at the women, but it made her want to be able to stay and prove to them that she was their friend, that she wanted to help them, and she wanted nothing to hold her back. If that meant becoming certified, then that's what she'd do.
She couldn't wait to go back next semester, she was almost done. She had this last semester coming up before she'd graduate and then she'd have her Bachelors Degree in Human Services and from there she could become a certified counselor and social worker.
"Erin...Erin!" Her director Amber called, coming up next to her.
"Oh, hey Amber." Erin called, her eyes never leaving the shelf. "What's up?"
"Just wanted to let ya know that we have company coming?"
Erin turned to look at her, "State?"
"No, not state, friends of mine."
"Oh?"
"Yeah, there's a guy I met back at a seminar I was at a few months ago and I gave him my business card and he called me just a few minutes ago."
Erin nodded; she was used to this. Amber would often bring people in to look over the program and see how things were done; often it served as an outline for other shelters and such.
"Well he wants to stop by with a friend of his, a recovering alcoholic. I mentioned him to you and he was hoping you'd be able to talk to his friend."
"Oh ok, that's not a problem. How long as she been sober?"
"It's not a woman."
"Oh, well alright. I'll talk to him, but what is it exactly that I'm supposed to do?"
"Just talk to him, see where he's at, encourage him and such."
"Does he go to AA?"
"Yeah, but Eric, my friend, wants him in something else too. Seems this guys has got a lot going on, not your typical situation, and he wants him to have more than just AA, someone to talk to about all his other issues."
"That's what sponsors are for."
"And he has one, Eric."
"Eric's his sponsor?" Erin questioned.
"Yeah."
"Ok, go on."
"He didn't say it was permanent Erin and you don't have to, but I guess maybe he just wants you two to meet, even if you don't decide that you don't want to do this."
"I have no problem with it, I'm just saying if he's got a sponsor and he goes to meetings, what do they need me for?"
Amber shrugged, "Dunno, honestly. Maybe they want someone with more experience to handle the psychological aspects. Sure he has a sponsor and he helps with the alcohol, but you could help with him getting over whatever else is haunting him."
"Does he know I'm not certified? I'd hate to have his friend start talking to me only to find out that I'm not have him be upset."
"I told Eric and he said he'd let his friend know."
"Fine, what time are they coming?"
"In an hour."
"Ok, well let me know when they get here."
"Will do, thanks Erin."
"No problem." Erin smiled, finally plucking a book and heading back over to the woman.
~~~~~~~~~~
"Where are we going again?"
"New Beginnings Woman's Shelter."
"I'm sorry man, but why to a woman's shelter and not a men's?" AJ asked.
"Cause there's someone there that I want you to meet."
"Ok, so what's so cool about him? Just another counselor right?"
"No, not just another counselor, and it's not a guy."
AJ shrugged, "Ok."
"And she's not certified."
"Let me get this straight, I'm going to see this person who works at this shelter but she's not certified." "Right."
"Why am I seeing someone who's uncertified?"
"Well she's in school for it, has one more semester to go and she graduates with her Bachelors Degree, then she just needs to go for her certification. Look, if Amber didn't think it was a good idea, then she wouldn't have agreed."
AJ sighed, "Yeah ok man, though I don't know what this is gonna do."
"AJ, I'm your sponsor and I'm here for you, you know that. But you need more help that even I can give you. Beyond the alcohol to everything else. Talking to someone will help with that. Rehab is done, but you still need to talk to someone. I'm hoping you'll be able to with this woman. It won't be anything technical or anything she needs to be certified for, just an ear. I hear she's really good at listening and giving advice. Just give a shot, ok?"
"Sure, whatever you say." He shrugged.
~~~~~~~~~
"Welcome gentlemen! Please, come in." Amber smiled, shaking Eric's hand then AJ's.
AJ smiled and looked around, taking everything. He listened patiently as the director gave them a tour of the facility before heading towards the back of the room.
"And this common room, the women usually come here to read or write or just relax while waiting for meetings. Sometimes the counselors will sit with them and talk. If you'll excuse me, I'll just go and get Erin."
Eric nodded and turned to AJ, "What do ya think?"
"It's nice, really nice."
"Yeah, I like the...atmosphere."
AJ chuckled, looking around.
"Here she is gentlemen."
AJ turned his head, smiling to greet the woman and stilled, his smile slowly fading.
Erin's eyes widened as her heart dropped.
"Eric, AJ, I want you to meet Erin Lawrence." Amber smiled.
