Abbie frequently observed her parents interacting with these enigmatic individuals donning white outfits and hats concealing their faces, with only eye holes exposing their identity. Their presence seemed ubiquitous, appearing wherever Abbie ventured. Whether she visited the mall, McDonald's, or Walmart, they were there, a constant and unsettling presence.
This unrelenting surveillance weighed heavily on Abbie's psyche, fostering a sense of paranoia that compelled her to constantly watch her surroundings whenever she ventured outdoors. Socially, Abbie endured a state of ostracism, treated as if she were beneath contempt, akin to being a pile of waste subject to relentless scrubbing by toilet paper. She garnered no respect, her status as a pregnant 17-year-old married to a black man was deemed unacceptable by those around her. Another source of disdain stemmed from her rural background, with adults often bullying her under the misguided assumption that she was "slow" due to her country upbringing. Matters grew so dire that Abbie limited her outdoor excursions to essential shopping trips.
One day, feeling that they had sufficient funds thanks to Tony's job, Abbie decided to purchase some unisex baby onesies. She prepared herself and ventured to the store with optimism. However, upon leaving the store, a group of four white individuals, cloaked in white garments, ambushed her, subjecting her to a brutal assault during her seventh month of pregnancy. They cruelly mocked her unborn child, uttering chilling words of contempt, "Give birth to your country, white trash!" 👿
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Once Abbie had been admitted to the hospital, a profound fear of miscarriage gripped her. Her voice trembled as she cried out to Tony in the sterile hospital room, tears streaming down her face, 😭"I don't want to lose our baby. Why does this have to happen to me?" 😥
Her concerns weighed heavily on both their minds and Tony, overwhelmed by anxiety, clasped his hands in prayer, pleading, "Dear God, please, protect our baby." The tension in the room was palpable as they awaited the results of the tests.
When the doctors conveyed the reassuring news that their baby was perfectly healthy, a wave of relief washed over them. It felt like a miracle, cementing the bond between Abbie and Tony even further. He resolved never to let his wife out of his sight, determined to shield her from harm.
Upon Abbie's return home, she confided in Tony, her eyes brimming with sadness, 😢"Do you think it was my fault for going outside?" 😢
Tony's voice rang out in vehement protest, his anger palpable, "Of course not! Everyone else can go outside without fear. It's not your fault; they are to blame for choosing to attack you."
Despite Tony's reassurances, Abbie clung to the notion that she bore some responsibility for the attack. In her efforts to protect their unborn child, she restricted her outdoor excursions to essential grocery runs when Tony couldn't make them himself. Abbie, now wary of her surroundings, carried a knife wherever she went since she lacked access to a Taser, pepper spray, or a firearm.
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Three weeks had passed since the harrowing incident when Abbie was brutally attacked. On this particular day, she was abruptly jolted from her uneasy peace by the sound of people outside her home, their voices raised in a heated argument, and fists pounding on her door. Anger welled up within her, and she couldn't help but wonder, "How can people be so cruel?"
Panic coursed through her veins as a dreadful realization dawned upon her; she knew that it was her parents, and they had returned to inflict harm upon her once more. The question "Why?" echoed in her mind, but she couldn't find an answer.
In desperation, Abbie reached for the inherited flip phone she possessed, as her family had refused to provide her with a new one. With trembling hands, she dialed Tony's number, her husband who was currently at work. He worked as an Uber driver, delivering pizzas to customers.
As Tony was amid a pizza delivery, he hastily answered the call while handing over the pizza to a customer named Ms. Alice. Panicked, Tony exclaimed, "Oh crap, I'm coming!" He swiftly completed the pizza transaction with Ms. Alice and sped home in the Uber-provided car.
Upon his arrival, Tony found himself embroiled in a heated argument with Abbie's father, tensions escalating as emotions ran high.
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Abbie's heart raced as she heard the altercation escalate outside. The sounds of a violent fistfight reached her ears, and she knew that things had taken a dangerous turn. In a sudden and powerful surge of strength, Tony managed to incapacitate Abbie's father, inflicting severe injuries. Her father's left leg and right arm were broken, and his nose and top lip were bloodied from a single powerful punch.
Taking control of the situation, Tony forcefully brought her father to the ground and began delivering blows to him. Realizing the gravity of the situation, Tony swiftly retrieved his Samsung phone and dialed the police, urgently recounting the violent encounter that had unfolded. With the call placed, he rushed into the house through the back door, locking it securely behind him to ensure Abbie's safety.
In response to the call, the police arrived promptly and attempted to apprehend all the assailants involved in the altercation, unfortunately, Abbie's parents had managed to evade capture and escape. Left with no other choice, Tony stepped up to take care of Abbie as she recovered from the traumatic incident.
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To be continued...