Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: ANGELS WATCHING OVER ME (don’t write about the song) (06/04/15)
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TITLE: Freedom Train | Previous Challenge Entry
By Linda Gage
06/11/15 -
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My self-promised appointment for freedom was scribbled on the calendar in code so no one would know. I dressed wondering what others might think when they saw me.
“She wore that?” I could just hear my best friend saying about the Mickey Mouse sweatshirt.
I got it at the mall with a secret wish to visit the ‘happiest place on earth.’ Even my best friend didn’t understand my desperation for a ‘happy home’ or at least a normal one.
I put on make-up; silly me.
Downstairs I tip-toed past their room. If caught, she would throw the worst yelling fit. Dad would just sit there, doing nothing.
Car keys were in their place, on the third hook of the key rack.
“Everything in its place; a place for everything,” she’d harp.
Everything had its place in this house except me. Dad was convinced it was all in my head, but her boys got everything and did nothing wrong.
Thoughts of those two churned my stomach as it had the first night they creeped into my room. I was only seven years old and could never overpower a 13 and 14 year old. Dad would never believe his new perfect wife or her perfect boys would do anything wrong. Anger seethed in me as I thought of how I counted down the days before they both would be off to college. That was supposed to be my freedom! I should have been done with all of that and able to move on with my life.
But, no, on the first visit back from college, he came to my room with the excuse that college girls are not for him. The freedom date changed. The freedom changed.
I grasped the key tightly and turned it. The car started. You can learn anything from the internet. I moved the stick to the ‘R’ and the car rolled out of the driveway. Driving didn’t seem so hard and I considered just making get-a-way as far as possible. Nope, they always get caught. I decided to stick to this plan. The destination wasn’t far from the house. I arrived and moved the stick to ‘P.’ My timing may be off just a tad, but I heard them every night and I knew it would come. I dozed off.
A whistle in the distance woke me. Here it comes. The faint light approached from the left.
A split second of fear overtook me. But the train was approaching fast. Second thoughts of changing the plan flashed. The next thought, destroyed it as I pictured succumbing to a lifetime of torture. With both hands I gripped the wheel and braced myself, determined to stay. The light grew larger. My heart beat faster.
The whistle screeched, “Move out of the way!”
“NO!” I yelled, “I can’t.”
My eyes were fixed on the bright headlight and with determined terror I squeezed tighter. Suddenly I felt two soft hands gently encompassed over mine. Strangely, I watched as the dashboard’s ‘P’ moved to ‘D.’ I was not the only one in that car! Terror changed to confusion. The car jolted forward. I woke up in the field with two men closely hovered
over me.
“You’re gonna be fine! We’re here to help!” One man said.
“Why does heaven hurt so much?” Everything went black.
While spending months in recovery the truth came out. For the boys, consequences had to be paid. For me, truth came in and everything changed. My body was mangled that day, but my spirit was renewed.
Now, ten years later, I counsel women on abuse. I always recount the miraculous day that God pulled me out of it. I tell of the angel that God sent who gripped my hands and drove my car so that I would not get demolished by that train. Jesus saved me. He blessed me with comfort and compassion in my troubles and I share that with others.
“For he shall give his angels charge over thee. . .” (Psalm 91:11)
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