Ronald's sister told Lydia to change her clothes, no bath, no food, since the day before. Lydia was seated in the back seat, in between Ronald and his brother. They told her that they were carrying her for a lawyer to 'put some sense in her head'. The ride to town was quiet, until they were parking. Ronald whispered to Lydia, that if she tried to speak to anyone he'll hurt her.
Little do they know, that Lydia knew the officer downstairs the court house. That's where they took her, not to see some lawyer, but they had a court date. Both the officer and the J.P. remembered Lydia.
Ronald and his sister were on either side of Lydia, holding on to her arm, they even sat that way.
Lydia was thinking, "What should I do, how can I get away from them?"
While court was going on, cases were being called, Lydia was going crazy thinking of what to do, how to reach down stairs, just to talk to the officer. She decided to go get some water, their were other people seated on either side of Ronald and his sister. Lydia took a dangerous chance, got up and asked excuse to go get some water. Suddenly Ronald got up and said he'll go with her.
When Lydia heard that she ran downstairs, God must have been on her side. Just as she reach down the steps, the officer saw her and came up to her. She told him that she needed help, that her husband is after her. He told her to calm down and asked where was he, Lydia said he has court upstairs. Just as she was telling the officer what was going on, Ronald came running down the stairs, directly to Lydia, scrambled her by her forearm and tugged at her to go with him. The officer then placed his hand on his gun and told him to let her go, if not then he'll have to arrest him.
The officer took Lydia to an office nearby, told her she's safe there, he's going to see if there's anyone in with the J.P.. Lydia was taken in to see the J.P., she told them what had happened, both the officer and the J.P., they remembered her from the day before, so they sympathized with her, understood what was going on. The J.P. took her statement and asked the officer to see that she is safe to leave. They told her she can go home, no one can stop her.
Lydia was afraid to go on her own, but just the thought of being free felt good. When they came out of the office, Ronald was still standing at the stairs. As she was going towards the door he stopped her, grabbed on to her wrist and said to her, you can't leave. The officer came up to him, pulled out his gun and pointed it to him saying, you need to back away from her right now. The officer told Lydia that she can go, She thanked him, but she told him that she's scared that as soon as she leaves he'll come after her. The officer assured her that he'll hold him there for Half an hour before letting him go, till then she should reach far enough.
Lydia left the building, not looking back even once. She started out in the direction of her parents home, her home. Lydia was not thinking right, she was consumed by the thought of reaching home, seeing her parents, that she didn't realize she had no money to travel or simply to make a phone call. She kept on walking, thinking of how to reach home. Lydia prayed to God once more in her mind, her prayers were answered.
Lydia thought that she can call her families friend Margaret, she lives closer to town.
"But I have no money,"She thought.
She took a few steps further, she saw a lady , she looked like a teacher, she was well dressed. Lydia kindly greeted her and ask her for two coins, that she needed to make an urgent call. The lady hesitated for a moment, then took out two coins and gaved it to Lydia. Lydia looked around for a telephone, there was none except that she goes back to town. Frustrated, tired and scared, she still continues to walk.
A little way out of town, there was a gas station, there Lydia saw an old neighbour, from an old neighbourhood where they lived before. Lydia thanked God before crossing the road to speak to the guy. When she called out to him, he was surprised to see her in that condition. He asked her if something was wrong, she then told him that she was running from her estranged husband and if he could be so kind as to drop her home, she'll happily pay him extra when they reach to her home.
To her surprise, the kindly neighbour told her to get in, he'll take her home. On there way he asked Lydia why she was running from her husband. Lydia told him the entire story of her marriage, what he did and how he locked her up, with nothing to eat or drink and to top that off, he forced himself on her over and over again. She even mentioned that she haven't had a bath in over forty eight hours.
The nice gentleman said , "I'll get you home safely, but you don't have to pay me."
It's very hard to find kind people, but seems as God was on Lydia's side that day. Tears spilled from her eyes as he told her that. She thanked him over and over again. But as they were almost in front of her parents house, Lydia saw her mom and dad sitting on the couch watching television.
Let's see how they explain their selves: