A Place to Lay One's Head

When I moved to Lake Charles, Louisiana, eight years ago from Baltimore, I had about $50 on me, some clothes, and an apartment waiting for me to move into. I arrived in Lake Charles having no clothes because the bus lost them, and then everything that could break down in the apartment did - from refrigerator to air conditioner (and it was 100 degrees with 100% humidity when I arrived).

For about a week, I was beyond depressed and quickly wondered why in the hell I was in this town.

Though I went to bed that first night hot and in tears, I went to bed on a bed, for there was a bed and a dining set already in the apartment, and I was blessed to have them.

That blessing couldn't compare to how I felt two days ago when I learned I was approved for the apartment in Texas.

For weeks, I had been worrying about it because of the credit check. Was so sure something would happen to thwart my advances. Friends and family kept telling me God don't take back; He GIVES. He gave me Texas Tech. He gave me the fellowship, the opportunity to leave, thus He would give me the place to lay my head.

And when I checked out the site for the apartment complex months ago and saw pics of the apartments, something in me said, "This will do."

Yet, I worried.

And I worried for naught.

Two days ago, I was at a restaurant, tending to a girlfriend in need when I checked my voice mail and heard a leasing consultant inform me that "We ran your application, and you've been approved. Congratulations!"

I pumped fists, smiled, hooted, and praised God, all while people stared at me, smiling, wondering what had me on Cloud Infinity.

Yesterday, I called the complex and let them know they could mail the contract to me to sign. I got the apartment furnished, so I don't have to worry over where to get to get furniture. I don't know if I'll be there a year or longer, so I didn't want to buy all this furniture to have to move somewhere else.

After I got off the phone, I sat and reveled in the happiness I felt. I thought about picking out bathroom accessories and bedding. I saw me, sitting on the sofa, a textbook in one hand and a highlighter in the other, prepping my notes. I saw me dancing around my apartment and singing and praising God and not worrying about a sibling coming in and disturbing my praise time. I saw me at the dining table, eating a great dinner I cooked for me and Hubby who'll be coming to visit in August before school starts.

I felt what I knew was the beginning of my reawakening, the coming back to myself.

It felt good.

It felt so good.