Page 1 of Blake University HBCU Chronicles: Archer & Destiny

ONE

Destiny

Destiny sat quietly in the backseat; her copper-brown coils bobbed gently with each bump in the road. The sound of her parents’ bickering made her anxiety shoot through the roof of the car. It always started and finished with the topic being about her. Destiny was happy and scared shitless about starting college. Happy, because for once, she wouldn’t feel like such a burden on her parents.

Henry and Kourtney Davis had been married for over thirty years. Both of her parents were successful. Henry Davis was a co-founder of a multi-million-dollar Cybersecurity company. Kourtney Davis was a successful web developer. The two were high school sweethearts that got married at the tender age of eighteen.

Since they were both always so busy, they agreed to give birth to only one child. Kourtney had several miscarriages and felt ecstatic that she carried Destiny full term. The couple relocated from California to Georgia when Destiny was two years old. Through ups and downs, Destiny is who brought them closer and carried them through the test of times.

Destiny hated the way most of their arguments revolved around her. She looked down at her hands that rested in her lap, today they were slightly swollen from morning stiffness. It wasn’t as bad as usual, so to her, that was a sign that today would be a good positive day.

The car crept through the gates of Blake University HBCU. It was her dream school; to her, it was freedom, and a fresh start never looked so good. The college looked like a post card or a pinterest photo. Destiny marveled at the bright green lawns and red brick buildings. Students walked in groups, laughing with excitement in their eyes while they carried bins full of their personal belongings. Destiny couldn’t wait to be a part of it all.

“Kourtney, did you make sure her meds were packed in the overnight bag? She needed those pain patches and?—”

“I packed it all, Henry.” Her mother cut him off.

Kourtney eyes were still fixed on the road ahead, avoiding her husband’s anxious glare.

“I double checked the pill box, the backup bottles, and the emergency stash in her purse.” Kourtney added.

Destiny let out a quiet sigh, her eyes focusing back to the window. Not wanting to be a part of her parents’ bickering, she continued to take in the campus.Don’t be weird, Destiny. Be outspoken for a change, meet new people, have fun…you’re only twenty-four years old…She told herself with sadness swirling inside of her mind. She couldn’t even be mad at her father for pushing back her initial start for the university, which was years ago.

She cried for several nights, not understanding why he was so scared to let her go. Henry reassured his daughter that he would get her enrolled for ‘Next Act Blake U’ which was a program designed for students that missed their opportunity to go to college after high school. She read all about it and lovedthe fact that the program assisted people over twenty-five to get back on track and into higher learning.

Next Act also gave students the opportunity to have the options to take night or day classes. They could also live in designated dorm rooms if they chose to do so. Destiny wanted to experience that, so she begged her dad. Henry pulled major strings and greased important people’s pockets to let his only child into the program. Her birthday was next month in September, so they overlooked the fact that she was twenty-four.

Destiny worried about her physical health. Her mother helped her pick her academic field. She agreed to do education and social work because she wanted to do work that mattered. She always enjoyed volunteering at her high school library. Her father also signed her up to become a student tutor. A lot of kids that she helped reminded her of herself. They weren’t just statistics in need like her, they were vivid and held lots of dreams.

It made her feel like she had a purpose when she was helping others. So, when her mom mentioned education and social work, she was all for it. It was something that demanded compassion and understanding. To Destiny, that was something that a lot of people in the world didn’t have.

Destiny had been struggling with severe arthritis since she was diagnosed as a teenager. She struggled with confidence; her low self-esteem weighed her down at times, but she still found a way to think positively. Because of all the different health issues she went through since ninth grade, she was from doing the things that she truly wanted to do.

She wanted friends, and to feel accepted somewhere other than her household. Destiny’s parents were very wealthy, they sheltered and spoiled her with no regrets. She was their miracle baby, their only child.

“I tell you what, Destiny…if one of these assholes disrespects you, I’ll come up here quick! This is why we moved close to campus, just for you, baby. A lot of these dumb fucks don’t know what the fuck ambulatory wheelchair users are! I wish the fuck?—”

“Henry, please! You already started this day off negative. Her nerves are already bad and you just making shit worse.” Kourtney rolled her eyes hard.

“How am I making shit worse? I’m just telling my daughter that I got her back and front. Mind your damn business.” Henry spat.

He was already fired up from thinking about all the what if’s and what his daughter might endure. She had been through enough since high school. From school bullies to people just making her feel insecure and offended. His mind went back to the awful night all of their lives were turned upside down.

Destiny went out with so-called friends when she was in the ninth grade and got shot. Doctors claimed that she would never be able to walk again. She proved them wrong year after year. Destiny was determined to walk again. She had gone from not being able to feel anything from the waist down to gaining feeling. She could even stand and waddle from side to side, she just couldn’t do it for long periods of time.

Her muscles would spasm severely, or she would fall down if she pushed herself too far. Now that she gained feeling back from the waist down, she experienced pain like no other. Some days, it would put her in a depressed mood; she would either cry throughout the day or be highly medicated to not feel half of the pain that traveled throughout her body.

She picked up an eating habit then gained most of her weight by the time she turned seventeen. Henry put Destiny on a diet, but it still didn’t stop her from sneaking to eat whatever it was that she wanted — thanks to her mother, Kourtney. Foodbecame her comfort; Destiny was beautiful but couldn’t see beauty in herself. She was five foot six and weighed a good two-hundred and sixty pounds. Her weight wasn’t sloppy, it was well proportioned.

Her deep, doe-shaped, brown eyes and deep-dish dimples that sunk in whenever she talked or smiled made her look like she had the face of an angel. She didn’t see what people saw when they called her beautiful. She figured she didn’t have any friends, simply because people viewed her as a liability. It was all frustrating to her, but she tried her best to remain positive about it all.

“I’m just saying.” Henry huffed. He adjusted his cap and glanced back at Destiny like he would catch her in the act of hiding one of her many flare ups. He knew his daughter very well, and he admired her courage and ambition to take care of herself without help. Henry wouldn’t see it any other way but to assist and help his daughter with whatever she needed.

“This ain’t like high school. I’ll admit that I’m nervous for my baby. If she misses a dose and her joints lock up, who will help her in the middle of the night or throughout the damn day.” He looked over at Kourtney.

“I know that.” Kourtney sighed.

“She’s not a damn child. She made it through the flare ups and spasms back in March on her own without telling us. Destiny is very mature and capable. We thought so many things, Henry. We thought in the beginning that she would never be able to even stand again when that bullet hit her spine and?—”

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