The sun hit Addie full in the face as she stepped out of her apartment and onto her front step. With one hand she pulled her sunglasses down from the top of her head and settled them onto her nose, the large, darkened lenses provided a little bit of relief from the glare. The other hand dug into the small, simple bag she used as a purse for her keys, day planner, chapstick, wallet and other essentials. Grasping the small key ring, she pulled it out, locked the door and started for her car.
What’s going to happen today? This whole week has been tough. Addie complained to herself. And then I had that dream last night about when… About him… Addie couldn’t even finish the thought in her head as words echoing around in her mind in a different language burned her ears. She quickly switched gears in her head like she always did when the thoughts of the past tried to overwhelm her. He refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for His name sake. Jesus, refresh my soul. I know you've been guiding me my whole life. Help me trust you.
As she finished her short prayer, she reached her dark blue Toyota Camry and sighed. What time was it, seven in the morning? Goodness gracious, there were still seventeen hours left in her day...
...Addie sighed, turning on the radio and ending her prayer with a disappointed amen. She pushed it all out of her mind and purposed to enjoy the day no matter how hard of a start it had had.
Half way to school there was an empty road that most people didn’t take. It wasn’t a short cut, it was actually slower because the speed limit was lower, but it was beautiful out there and a whole empty road to herself was too tempting for Addie to resist. She had time. Turning up the radio as she turned onto the scenic route, Addie’s smile became genuine.
Trees just regaining their foliage stood straight and tall, lining both sides of the road for a ways before fading away and providing a view of the expansive and still empty fields, ready for a summer of corn to grow. All was still. All was calm…
“WHAT IN THE…!!!” Addie slammed on the breaks and felt her seat belt lock as her body flew forward from the sudden stop. Heart pumping and adrenaline bursting through her body, Addie put her car in park before fumbling with her seat belt and giving the volume knob a huge twist down. Her whole body was shaking as she jumped out of the car. “Are you okay?”
“Oh thank God! I didn’t think anyone would ever come, please, you have to help me! Please!” A woman with short, messy, black hair and ripped, blue jeans came running towards her, a naked baby screaming in her arms.
Oh dear Lord, what happened? Addie felt herself begin to lose her balance for a moment but steadied herself against the hood of her car. I have a bad feeling about this!
“Please, you have to get us to the hospital! Please! Please!” The woman begged, her big scuffed up leather boots clumping against the asphalt road as she ran towards Addie.
“Okay, I’ll take you.” Addie reassured the woman, motioning her to come. “I’ll take you, come on!”
It wasn’t until then that Addie realized that the screaming little body in the woman’s arms was bleeding everywhere. The woman’s shirt had blood stains all over it and the blood was running down her arms in garish red rivers.
“Oh my word, what happened?” Addie could see blue lips, a tiny button nose and two little eyes scrunched shut as he wailed and screamed. Tiny fists waved furiously and feet kicked at the air. “Is he your baby?”
“No, I just found him!” The woman’s voice had a German accent and it stopped Addie cold. A flood of unwanted memories, including ones stirred up by the dream last night, filled her mind and she had to shake the thoughts away before she could hear what else the woman was saying. “...just left there! I don’t know who would do such a thing! You have to help us! Please!”
“Okay, let’s get in the car.” Addie regained her senses and ushered the woman into the passenger seat. “I’ll get you to the hospital as fast as I can.”
Addie didn’t say a word as she sped down the road, totally ignoring the speed limit. Beside her the woman kept repeating how awful it was that someone would try to butcher an innocent child like that. That accent was messing with Addie’s mind and she forced herself to keep old memories at bay, praying for strength and that the baby would live.
Cuts from a knife were deep and long, all over the baby’s chest and stomach. There were several deep marks on the baby’s head but his face was the worst with blood gushing out of a huge gash in his right temple. At one point in time he choked some blood that ran into his open mouth as he screamed and he nearly didn’t make it to his next breath. Addie’s stomach was in a knot thinking about how the baby might die right there in her car.
Dear God, don’t let that happen! I know You’ve made me strong, but I don’t want to have to live with that in my memory!
The woman in the passenger seat clutched the child to her chest and her lips moved silently as tears streamed down her face. Addie’s own eyes stung with tears as her heart became attached to her small passenger. Her mission was to get that baby to the hospital and make sure he lived.
