The fresh cool air hits Ezra’s face as he walks outside the bar. It was nearing 1:30 in the morning now. Ezra was very thankful he didn’t have work in the morning. He laughed as his friends piled in the truck and Luke hung his head out the window with a big goody grin, “I’m getting married next weekend!”
“You are!” He waved goodbye as they drove off and turned to walk to his own vehicle. He had driven here alone after work.
The smiled died on his face as he realized their was a person on the ground hunched over several yards away. He ran over and his stomach turned as he realized it was a woman who was severely injured. Disgust and shock overcame him as he realized shed been beaten. Her face was covered with blood, dirt and her face was beginning to swell. She was clutching her sides and seemed to have passed out. He then grimly realized it was the waitress.
“Hey! Hey! You okay? You here with me?” He gingerly took her face in between his hands, trying to get her to wake up. He moved his hand behind her head, supporting the back of her neck. He then reached down to grab his phone to dial 911.
Her eyes fluttered and then rolled into the back her head. He then spoke softly to her, “Hey, it’s alright I’m gonna call 911, they’ll take care of you and get you help.”
Parker heard him speaking to her, his voice sounded so far away, but it was lovely. His voice was so warm and soothing and she wanted to sit here and listen to it forever. Then what he said registered in her mind. Her eyes flew open and she moaned as she came too, “No! No, you can’t please!”
She begged him not to, and then she saw the man whose voice brought her such comfort actually belonged to the guy she had been serving earlier.
“Look Elizabeth, you’re hurt! You need help!”
She shook her head, desperation rising, “No, you can’t. Please, I’ll be in more trouble, please!” Parker knew if he called 911 and the police came it would make it that much worse for her with the men who had just beaten her, and the hospital would treat her, but they might find the drugs in her system. No, she couldn’t go to the hospital or get the police involved.
Ezra looked at her a long while and understood that their might be more going on than he knew. His heart went out to her as he decided to contact their second best option.
“Alright, alright. At least let me take you to my mother, she’s a nurse. She can see how bad off you are and try to help you.” He tried reasoning with her and sincerely hoped she’d let him help her. He would not just leave her here. He couldn’t.
Parker nodded weakly and he helped her up. She winced and cried out in pain at the movement, “Can you walk?” He asked her.
She tried to take a step and immediately buckled. He picked her up easily and walked her over to his truck. He helped her lay across the back seat.
As he got in the driver seat he wondered if he should call his mother first and warn her. He decided against it, she may tell him to take her to the hospital instead. He knew she wouldn’t let him. He would just show up and pray his mother would be able to help her.
He looked over his shoulder and watched her twisting and turning in pain in the backseat. A furious anger rose and roared in his ears at whoever could do this to anyone, especially a woman.
He quickly turned the truck on and then drove to his parents house. The five miles seemed an eternity as Parker withered in the seat next to him.
He pulled into the driveway and he leapt out of the truck, his hands shaking, very thankful he still had his old key. He unlocked the door and was shocked to see his mother sipping a cup of tea in the living room.
Sarah gasped at the sight of her son standing in the entry way. She saw his ashen face and knew something must be very wrong. Fear immediately gripped her as she took in the blood stain on his shirt.
“Honey, what is it? Is everyone okay?” She asked him filled with worry.
Ezra praised God she was awake, he ran forward and kneeled next her, “Mom, when we were leaving the bar…” he struggled trying to find the words to explain the circumstances of what brought him here, “there was a woman. I found her in the parking lot, she had been beaten. Mom she needs medical attention and she wouldn’t let me call for help. She’s very afraid. I didn’t know what else to do, but bring her here. Can you help her?” His eyes searched her face, pleading her to say yes.
Sarah quickly stood up, she knew now why she had suddenly woken up from a deep sleep. She could feel it in her spirit the Lord had awoken her for this moment. She nodded, “Quickly bring her to the dining room. I’ll clean off the table and you lay her there.”
Ezra ran outside to the car, his heart beating fast, he gently picked up Parker and brought her inside and laid her on the table. His mom had returned with a bag of medical equipment. His mother gave him a look that told him to make himself scarce.
Her brows furrowed as she studied Parker, “Hi, my name is Sarah, I’m Ezra’s mother, I am a nurse and I’m going to give you a look over. Is that okay?”
Parker nodded her consent. Sarah got to work, feeling around her limbs, checking for bruising which could often be a sign of internal bleeding, making sure nothing was broken. She then called Ezra over and asked him to help sit Parker up, as she wrapped a binder around her rib cage. She then moved onto Parker’s face, washing her split lip and wounds on her cheek with a saline wash, applying iodine on some the deeper gashes and then an antibiotic ointment.
Parker tried to sit as still as possible while tears streamed down her cheeks. She was utterly embarrassed and in complete agony.
“Oh, honey.. it’s going to be okay. You’re okay,” Sarah said softly trying to reassure her, “you are safe. We will get you fixed up.”
Ezra wondered how on earth she had gotten herself into this situation. Had she been robbed? Why would there be trouble if he contacted the authorities?
His heart crying out for her. He prayed for healing over her.
Sarah finally fished doing what she could for her, gave Parker some ibuprofen for the swelling and then turned to Ezra, “Ezra, why don’t you carry her up to your old room? I’m going to need to check on her through out the night. She can stay here for now, she’s not well enough to go home alone and needs to be monitored.”
Parker began to protest, but a stern look from Sarah cut her off. She then said quietly her voice filled with gratitude, “thank you.” Sarah nodded and smiled gently at her.
Ezra once again picked her up and carried her down the hall into his childhood bedroom. His mom came in from behind him with what must have been an old nightgown of his sisters. He then left his mom to help Parker change, shutting the door behind him.
He waited outside the door his heart racing. He let out a frustrated sigh. He had so many emotions and thoughts washing over him. This woman out of nowhere had somehow now evaded his home, his mind. He was concerned for her and he didn’t even know her.
His mom opened finally came out of his old room and faced him in the hallway. “Can I have a moment with her?” He found himself asking his mother.
His mom reached up and grabbed his chin and peered into his eyes, “Ezra, what on earth is going on?”
Ezra didn’t answer her, because he didn’t know himself. All he knew is that this woman had disturbed his soul the moment he met her, and he still couldn’t figure out if it was good thing or not.