Just for Today: A Novel
an excerpt

“My son, I am sorry, but you cannot sleep here.”
I pulled my self to an upright, sitting position. The old ladies no longer sat in the front of the church, no one sat up there.
“What time is it?”
“Eleven thirty. You have been here for three hours or so.”
I took a deep breath and grunted, grabbing my side.
“What happen?” he asked.
“Hmmph. My life caught up with me today.” I looked up at him. “I'm trying to fix it. It's just that things are not going my way.”
The priest nodded in understanding. He then took a seat next to me. “It is like that, isn't it? If only people and situations would cooperate with my plans, for I truly have their best interests in heart.”
“Exactly. I mean, today. Well, hell man, I might as well tell you. I fuckin' kicked my habit this weekend. Sorry for the language. But I'm gonna get things straight. Except my dealer is tired of waiting for his money and he sent Carlos the Barbarian to collect. That bruiser tore into me. But I gave it right back.”
The priest smiled. “I'm glad to hear about the heroin. It's only the beginning, though. If it was easy to stay off of, it wouldn't be addictive. Have you tried to quit before?”
“Yeah, once before. I just could never get passed the detox. Oh God, those withdrawals are terrible. I wouldn't wish them on my worse enemy.”
“Even Carlos?”
I laughed in response. “Well, yeah, not even on him.”
“There is hope for you. I am Father Joe. What is your name?”
“Allen Fisher. Please to meet you, Father.”
He shook my hand. “I am glad you found your way here.”
I shrugged my shoulders. “Perhaps I was guided,” I joked.
“I don't doubt it for a second.”
I looked straight at him, and couldn't resist grinning. “No, I suppose you wouldn't.”
“Listen, Allen. I have a friend I want you to meet. He and others gather here at noon and they are similar to you. They've gotten through some very rough times by helping each other.”
“What, like AA or something?”
“Yeah, AA or something. They meet in the basement. Are you willing to go meet them?”
My face formed a frown. The thought of meeting these addicts caused my stomach to flip. “I don't know, Father. I don't think they can help me.”
“Well, it's up to you,” he said as he stood up. “It's in the basement. If you go down there, find Seth. He's the one who you remind me of. And remember, no sleeping here. We can't let everyone sleep here.”
I nodded. “Thanks, Father.”
Father Joe walked back to the front of the church, passed the altar, and into a side room. The silence of the church brought comfort to me. No noises, no one chasing me. I no longer felt exhausted, but rather refreshed and invigorated. A thought of leaving the church and going somewhere entered my mind, but it quickly left as a vision of Carlos standing outside with a baseball bat flashed before me.