Page 3 of Blake University HBCU Chronicles: Archer & Destiny

THREE

Destiny

The sun was gentle today, not too hot shining down on Blake U’s campus. Destiny rolled across the quad with her head held high. Her thick copper-brown coils were pinned half-up with the rest flowing down her back. Her hair bounced with every turn of her electric wheelchair’s tires.

It was her second week of classes. She’d been on time to every one and hadn’t missed a dosage.

Her mother checked in with her once or maybe twice a day while her father called her in between every class.

He’d also stay up late, acting like he was making small conversation, when in reality, he just wanted to be sure that she was eating before taking her medicine at night.

Destiny actually felt good, she hadn’t cried for an entire week. That was a new record for her. She hadn’t made any new friends but just being in a new environment felt good to her.

Today, she promised herself that she wouldn’t race straight back to her apartment like she normally did the moment lectures let out.

She felt like she deserved to see more of the campus.

How can I ever meet new friends if I’m always inside studying.

She smiled at nothing in particular. Soon as class let out, students poured into the courtyard like released confetti.

Destiny turned toward the heart of campus instead of the exit.

She was nervous at first and second guessed her decision on texting her driver Alley to tell her that she didn’t need to be picked up until around six p.m. Her fingers hovered over the joystick as she passed couples that lounged on hammocks in the middle of the grass.

Her mouth watered at the frat boys that tossed a football back and forth.

She looked at students under trees curled over open laptops outside of the food courts.

That’s how free and comfortable she wanted to be.

She rolled through the glass automatic doors of the food court and was instantly hit with the smell of fried chicken, fries, burgers, and just about everything else.

Someone was playing music from their speaker, and Destiny slowly bobbed her head to the beat. Just for a second, she felt invisible in the best way possible. She didn’t hear any whispering about a girl in the wheelchair, whereas in high school there was noise and no normalcy for her.

The first thing she did was order a mango smoothie from Jamba Juice then wheeled toward the back wall where two tall vending machines glowed beside the student lounge. She stared up at all of them. One vending machine was full of drinks and the other was stacked with snacks.

She got excited just thinking about having frosted Pop Tarts, sour gummies and hot Cheetos as she read on her Kindle from bed that night.

I can do this. She thought to herself as she powered off her chair.

She locked the wheels and slowly braced herself to stand.

Her legs protested immediately, feeling stiff, heavy, and almost foreign under her.

Some days, it felt like her body went numb — which she appreciated, so she wouldn’t have to endure much pain.

Today, she felt pain but hadn’t stood up since this morning when she got herself in the shower.

She gripped the edge of the vending machine with one hand while her other hovered over the keypad.

She read the snack numbers slowly, trying to choose which one she wanted to attempt to get first. She knew it was a task, and didn’t bother looking behind her to see who was watching.

If her dad was with her, he would have got her whatever she wanted.

Moments like this, she wished he was there with her.

She rid herself of those thoughts, not wanting to remain dependent on what all her dad would do for her.

This was a hard task, what made it harder mentally was her thinking that all eyes were glued to her as she struggled.

Destiny was right, all eyes were on her, and no one offered to help at all.

It’s like the people behind her knew what Destiny’s fate was before it happened.

There were some students that got a kick out of watching her struggle. Some of them recorded her without even trying to conceal their phones. Destiny’s chips descended, exciting her before she tried to bend down to get them out of the slot.

A sharp pain shot up her back, automatically causing her to wince and cry out.

Her legs twitched then buckled. It happened in a breath, her muscles spasmed violently and she couldn’t shift fast enough.

Destiny twisted, trying to reach for the armrest of her chair.

She knew she was going to fall, at least it would be better to land in her chair.

She missed by inches; her body hitting the tile floor hard.

The vending machine beeped once, uselessly.

Her smoothie rolled to the side and spun in circles.

There was silence at first, but seconds later, she heard laughter.

It wasn’t from everyone, just a small group of boys that had got it all on their phones for funny content and memes.

Destiny closed her eyes; her face burned with humiliation.

She couldn’t stop her tears from falling down her chubby cheeks.

Record broken. Now I’m fucking crying after going so long without feeling this way.

She thought sadly. She sniffled and tried her best to suck up her tears, but it was hard for her.

The weight of her humiliation weighed her eye sockets down, and she refused to turn towards all the students behind her.

She didn’t even want them to see her in pain.

Just that fast, she felt like her day was ruined.

She didn’t understand why her body chose to betray her in front of everyone.

Behind closed doors, she could stand and waddle her way from her bed to her bathroom.

She could even stand longer than expected in her kitchen whenever she cooked something for herself.

Out of all days to have a bad spasm, it happened in the food court.

She told herself that maybe she should have gone with her first mind.

Now, she wanted her driver to pick her up at the regularly scheduled time.

She knew she would have to sit for a while on the floor.

Her legs were locked; her arms shook from the hard fall.

Suddenly, the laughing stopped like someone hit mute.

A new presence, quiet but heavy, stepped inside of the food court.

Archer watched her fall before he entered; he stood outside of the food court, waiting to see if anyone was going to help her.

It infuriated him that people laughed and recorded the disabled instead of assisting them.

Soon as he walked inside, just about everyone got quiet. Everyone knew not to fuck with Archer. His cold demeanor preceded itself. He eyed one of the boys that was laughing and recording when he stood up to attempt to walk up to Destiny, who was still on the floor.

“Move.”

A deep voice sounded off from behind Destiny, not loud but it sounded too close to her ears. She opened her eyes and turned to look at the boys at the table who shifted and put their phones down. They looked like they were scared for their lives.

Archer crouched beside her and didn’t say anything.

“You hurt?” He asked lowly.

Destiny just stared into his pale blue eyes, fully captivated. Why did it have to be a fine ass man to come save me? She took in Archer’s features, to her, he looked like a Greek god.

Destiny shook her head no sadly. Usually, it was nothing for her to mask her pain. Right now, it felt excruciating.

“I just need to sit here for a while, if you can reach in my backpack to get me my pain pills, they’ll kick in for me in about thirty minutes.” She smiled up weakly at Archer.

Her eyes welled up, but she quickly blinked her tears away.

“Alright, I’ll get your pills once I pick you up off the ground.” Archer said.

His eyes landed on her shaky arms. He felt for her and instantly got pissed all over again that people refused to help her as soon as they saw her struggling. Archer was closed off, so most people thought he was mean and cold hearted. He was actually the total opposite.

“Oh no, you can’t lift me.” Destiny laughed nervously.

“Why not?” Archer brow raised.

“I’m too heavy to be lifted, I can get myself up soon. Once my legs?—”

Destiny gasped as Archer reached under her carefully. He placed one arm behind her back, the other under her knees, and lifted her like she weighed nothing. She wanted to protest but was in too much shock. She hadn’t been touched by a guy other than her dad since the ninth grade.

He placed her in her wheelchair gently and adjusted the position of her legs without her permission.

Archer quietly went behind her wheelchair to unzip her backpack.

Destiny cringed at the noise all of her pill bottles made as Archer read each label.

Finally, he spotted her pain meds and gave them to her.

He zipped her backpack up and quietly moved toward the vending machine that had sodas, juice, and water.

He used his phone to pay for her a water then handed it to her.

“You wanted anything else out of here?” He asked, never turning back around to face her.

Destiny contemplated then gave in, telling him all the snacks she intended to get. She offered him her debit card; Archer simply ignored her and got everything she called off. With all of her snacks in his hand, he walked back behind her wheelchair then stuffed them all in her backpack.

Destiny stared at him, overwhelmed, humiliated, and very grateful all at once.

“All of this just for some big back snacks.” She tried to joke, but her voice still trembled.

Archer didn’t laugh, although the corner of his mouth tugged up slightly.

“You good now?” He asked.

“Yes, thank you so much.” She smiled.

He nodded then stepped back, his gaze went over to the table where the boys were laughing before. Then, he turned to leave without saying another word. Destiny’s heart thumped hard in her chest as she watched Archer walk away, calm and unbothered by helping her.

He moved like a man who didn’t rush for anyone. Like he had nowhere to be but people knew better than to waste his time. I can’t let this moment pass like this! This is a chance to make a new friend! Dammit, say something, anything Destiny!

Her fingers twitched over the joystick as she turned the chair.

Her eyes were locked on the broadest part of his upper back as he strolled toward the exit.

He just helped you up off the damn floor and picked you up in his arms. You can’t just let him disappear like he didn’t just give you a memory you’ll replay for weeks!

“Hey!” She called out, biting the inside of her cheek.

Archer paused, but he didn’t turn around right away. He just stopped mid-step and had an internal battle with himself. Destiny cleared her throat, unsure if what she was about to ask was stupid. It was now or never; Destiny didn’t want their interaction to end so she thought quickly and boldly.

“You…know anywhere else to eat around here? Like, outside of the food court?” Her words stumbled out awkward and breathless, like her dignity hadn’t already taken enough of a hit for the day.

At least I said something. What’s the worst that could happen? Destiny thought with more confidence. She was tired of letting the world move on without her, all to be stuck in the same position. Archer turned his head slowly, giving her a look over his shoulder. His face was unreadable to Destiny.

She forced a smile and continued through baited breaths.

“If it’s not too much for you, you don’t have to show me…you can tell me. I don’t know anyone here, so I figured if I’m going to keep exploring inside and the outside of campus…I should know where all the good food is.” She chuckled nervously.

There was a long uncomfortable pause. Seconds later, Archer turned around and looked at Destiny.

He didn’t smile back at her or soften his face.

I don’t know anyone here… Her soft-spoken words replayed in his mind.

He gazed around the food court, and within seconds, he figured out that people were probably dick heads towards her because of her disability.

“Come on.” He stated flatly.

The way he said the two simple words hit Destiny’s chest like a second wind.

He turned and walked through the door then held it open.

Once Destiny rolled out of the food court, he turned and walked through the door, not waiting for a response from her.

He walked at his own pace, already knowing that she’d follow.

Destiny powered her chair and wheeled behind him fast. Her legs still ached and felt locked, but her spirit sparked with something new. Hope.