Long Blue Line: Based on a True Story (51 page)

After spending a week renting a tiny room in a trailer about a block away from my job, I knew that I had to get out fast after waking up at 3:00 a.m. to my new roommate staring at me quietly in the dark. She was in her late fifties, and although she claimed sobriety, I quickly learned otherwise. Telling her that I took medication for my panic attacks was a mistake. She wanted it. When I noticed that the prescription that I recently filled was over half gone, Steven picked me up and helped me move my things back into his car. He was living with his friend and his friends’ family, and I had nowhere to go. Steven wasn’t going to let me be a bum alone. We moved into a motel room for the next two weeks. Initially, I was hoping that I could get on my feet and eventually go to Court and try to get custody or, at the very least, visitation rights with my daughter. I became unsure of how this was going to play out when I realized that even my job at the local grocery store wasn’t enough to pay for a room in a motel every night. One night I got a strange call from a Detective who wanted to take me to the station for an interview. I figured that if I didn’t cooperate, I’d be in trouble. I got a call from Derrick five minutes later. He was laughing, almost hysterically. Derrick was the Detective. It freaked me out that I honestly didn’t recognize his voice. I was convinced he was possessed. I asked him if I could see Danielle to tell her that I loved and missed her. I wanted to meet with them in one of the local playground areas because I was worried about my safety. Derrick responded by telling me that the only way I could see her was if I went on a ride with them. There was no way I was going to get into a vehicle with him. I remembered the ride with Derrick to the top of the mountain in Tahoe when he was so angry and I was afraid I was going to end up dead.

Steven was going to start training at a school for Correction Officers in just a few weeks. His training was going to be paid for, and he wanted to take care of me as soon as he could. When I checked into the motel room, I told him that I wanted his company. He gladly stayed with me, and we fell in love over those two weeks. We went swimming, ate pizza, laughed about how pathetic our situation was, and purely lived in the moment while appreciating every second together. Soon enough, we were both completely tapped out of money and resources. I called my mom. “Well, until Steven starts his training, why don’t you go stay with your Uncle Tony in Arizona? I’m sure he’d love to take care of you for a while,” my mom suggested. It wasn’t a bad idea, but I didn’t want to leave Steven, and I knew that I had to try to see Danielle as much as I could. “Liz, if you go stay with Uncle Tony, I’ll buy you a plane ticket back to Texas whenever you’re ready.” She convinced me. Steven agreed that it was probably our only realistic option. Before taking me to buy my Greyhound bus ticket, he took me to a sporting goods store and bought me a small bottle of pepper spray for my safety.

As Steven stared at the ground with his head hanging low, I hugged and kissed him one last time. I left most of my things in his car, knowing that I would soon return. He promised he would take care of them. I boarded the bus and had a lump in my throat as I watched him from the window of the crowded bus.  He sat in his car waiting for the bus to get on the road. I knew at this point how unpredictable life was, and I hoped I would be back in his arms sooner than later.

I woke up the third morning from riding on a bus for what felt like a million mile journey. As the sun rose, the mountains and cactus looked so perfect to me. I was tired and missing Steven and Danielle, but I was also excited.  I was crossing into a new chapter, and I knew that it was safe to turn the page. I was finally going to be able to begin the life of healing I so yearned for and find the real Elizabeth that had been lost for so long. I smiled.

Long
was the line

An abrupt walk of fate

Blue
was the time

The long years left to wait

Line
was the life

So blessed to create

Gabriella, Madeline and Danielle,

I’m here and waiting.

I’ll always love you.

Love,

Mom

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A Native to South Lake Tahoe, California, Elizabeth is adjusting to the life of the heat, big bugs, and Southern hospitality in the deep South of Texas. She lives with her family and spends most of her time writing.
Everything really is bigger in Texas, Including her relentless drive to push forward and present a new light to her readers offering insight to social issues ranging from teen pregnancy and substance abuse to domestic violence and criminology (she was an expert in all of the above).
Above all, Elizabeth has overcome what most statistics would contest, and she's telling her story which uncovers an eye opening reality that many women are living with today. 
McNew has had her content ranked  as best sellers in several competitive categories, currently settled in Social Sciences, College Guides, Women's Studies, parenting teens, natural healing,  home based businesses and job hunting.
"
Elizabeth is one of the most professional authors I've ever had the pleasure to know. She is a warm, caring person who possesses a clear and concise desire to help others by sharing her own experiences. She is always available to offer genuine encouragement. I wrote a review of her book Testing the Waters for my site at BellaOnline.com and I loved it very much. Elizabeth expressed how grateful she was for my review and I was glad to hear that she genuinely loved the review. Elizabeth has always been an inspiring individual and I am proud to call her my friend and colleague!"
Dominique L. Jordan
Writer and Editor of the Teen site at BellaOnline.com
December 12, 2013