My name is Heather. I was in Straight Springfield during 1990-1991. I was on first phase for six months, made it to second phase for two months, got setback to first phase and then "escaped" from a host home. I left with my clothes tied up in a shirt, no money, no place to go and walked to a Wendy's fast food. I walked up to two complete strangers to ask for help. I was originally from San Francisco and did not know anyone in the D.C. area that wasn't a part of Straight to get help from. I was scared to death I would get talked into going back. I think these two guys said they had been in Straight but I can't remember. One of them let me stay at his house for a night and the next morning someone else picked me up and took me to Western Union to pick up money wired to me from a friend in CA. Then he drove me to a Greyhound station where I took a bus home. I have been wondering who these people were for the last 13 years. They said they, "just help people". They didn't ask for anything in return from me. Sometimes I wonder if they were angels or something! I would love to thank them for their help and getting me away from that crazy place. I could have been raped or killed out on the streets if it weren't for them. If this sounds familiar to anyone, please email me. I am so grateful to these two people. When I got to the bus station in D.C. my parents were able to get a hold of me and told me I could come home. They were beginning to think they had made a huge mistake when they put me in Straight anyway! I am sober today thanks to AA. I had to go to a therapist for quite some time after I got home to get unbrainwashed! I was scared to leave the house, read, listen to music, dress wrong, etc. Thank God I got out of there before it was too late to undo the damage. I look forward to hearing from anyone who might know who it was that helped me that night.
Take care,
Heather
