When I was in rehab I had a roommate who was this little old black lady and she was completely blind. And I saw that and was like “anybody gonna be this lady’s guide?” And didn’t wait for an answer. I actually got in trouble for “perpetuating lesbianism” BECAUSE I WOULD LEAD HER BY THE FUCKIN HAND. And that was “”too gay for the program”” so I had to make sure she held my elbow instead and like. What really pissed me off is that she was not given aid whatsoever for her disability. It was fucking me doing her paperwork. I was able to help her sign her own name but I had to fill out all of her intake stuff and ask all these invasive ass demographic questions like don’t you motherfuckers have a guy for that??? I’m here trying to fucking recover too, not interrogate this poor woman with questions about whether or not she’s ever been raped or abused or whatever
I remember one night early on, neither of us could sleep so we were just talking about anything and everything and she eventually asked “why’s a nice little white girl like you taking care of me like this?” (For context I was in detox with her, and you’re not the best version of yourself in detox by far, and we had both said some pretty rude things to each other) and I didn’t really know how to answer other than say “because… it’s the right thing to do?” And she got quiet and said softly “you’ll change when you’re older. The world is a cruel place for addicts” and I said “so why not take care of each other? Why not be the one source of compassion in a cruel world?” And she got quiet again and eventually gave a sad sigh and said “I pray the world doesn’t beat that kindness out of you… because it sure will try”