by J. Thornton-Thomas

Created on: April 15, 2009   Last Updated: April 16, 2009

I enjoyed a leisurely stroll along the hiking trail near my home in Raleigh, North Carolina, the idyllic summer afternoon matching my cheery mood. My thoughts turned to my only child, Kelly. I was so proud of her.

Kelly had secured a summer internship with Howard University Hospital. Next month, she would be entering her third year of pre-med courses at Howard. Her father and I were actually planning to visit her in a couple of weeks after classes started. My daughter was going to be a doctor.

Her father and I were financially secure and our marriage good. I remember breathing a long, happy sigh and thinking, "Life just doesn't get any better than this?"

Two hours later, my whole world was turned upside down.

"I hate to be the one to tell you this, but Kelly's been arrested, Mrs. Collins." Those words echoed in my head, bouncing off every corner of my mind. Surely, I'd heard Meagan, my daughter's roommate wrong. She couldn't possibly have said what I thought she did. Kelly arrested?

My Kelly?
It didn't make sense. Kelly was a young woman with a bright future and a clean past. She'd served as president of the National Honor Society in high school. She'd worked with Habitat for Humanity. Kelly was a beautiful and intelligent girlshe would never end up in jail.

"Mrs. Collins, did you hear me? Are you there?"

I dropped down on the edge of my bed. "M-Meagan, what are you trying to tell me?"

"Kelly is in serious trouble. She and her boyfriend was arrested for possession and distribution of a controlled substance. Ricardo had a gun in the car, too."

"WHAT?"

"I'm so sorry to be coming to you with news like this. I just thought you should know."

Shock sent my body into a numbing state. This couldn't be happening. Meagan didn't know what she was talking about. She had been given wrong information.

"When did this happen?"

"Yesterday. Kelly didn't want you to know about this. I think she was hoping she could get it all cleared up without you finding out."

"You can't keep something like an arrest secret," I snapped in anger.

I felt so betrayed. Kelly and I had always been very close. Why would she want to keep something like this from me?

Deep down, I knew the answer. She was embarrassed and ashamed. She probably felt like she'd let me down. Those same emotions were coursing through my body. I was suddenly embarrassed over my daughter's actions. I had never been so humiliated.

What would my friends think of me? What would my church think? Would they frown on my childrearing skills? Would

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