When God Shows Up, Fewer People Die

Sabrina put an arm around Amy’s shoulder as they stepped out into the cold night air. Temperatures had been in the 60’s earlier, but had dropped considerably since dusk. The temperature was not the only reason for the chill in the air. Upon setting foot on the ground outside, they found themselves surrounded by guns. There were men with guns on every balcony and porch. There was also an officer with a gun who stood beside the bus. More than anything she’d experienced so far in this situation, this scene embodied her reoccurring dream, it gave her a bone chilling sensation. Because it had been so warm earlier, Amy’s children had been dressed only in diapers. As the cool of the evening set in, Sabrina had found clothes to put on them. She even found a blanket for Amy. But it wasn’t until Amy stepped up into the bus in front of her, that she realized Amy was also barefoot. A lump caught in her throat. She’d been so busy trying to think of everything on behalf of everyone, she hadn’t even noticed Amy’s bare feet. ‘Now what can I do for her?’ she thought. As Amy sat down, Sabrina did the only thing she knew to do. She quickly took off her own shoes and socks. Then she handed her socks to Amy. Amy took them gratefully. As Sabrina put her shoes back on and sat down beside her, she exclaimed, “How did you ever run across all that shattered glass in the parking lot without shredding your feet?” Amy looked at her in bewilderment and spoke, “I don’t know!” Amy and Sabina had chosen a seat toward the back of the bus. Once everyone was inside, the officer who had been standing beside the bus came inside too. He stood toward the middle of the bus in the isle. He’d greeted Ruth as she’d entered the bus. It was evident they knew each other. As the bus became quiet, Sabrina whispered to Amy, as though they were finishing the conversation they’d started in Jakes’ apartment moments ago. “You do realize, whether he’s alive now or not, it’s likely before the night is over he won’t be?” Amy admitted she knew, and that also, she knew all too well, he wouldn’t want it any other way. The bullets Alec had shot behind her drove her away from him. Now she was on a bus that would drive her away from him completely. Her last link with him would soon be broken forever. Amy had fought hard to keep her composure throughout this whole situation, yet now in the dark quiet bus, where no one would be watching, she ventured to let a tear fall. She didn’t know one tear would fall upon another until the dam of emotions would burst into uncontrollable weeping. Sabrina’s heart ached for her. Amy was only nineteen. Nobody’s life should be shattered to pieces at nineteen, the way Amy’s was. She should have had years of happiness with the wonderful family she believed she had. Sabrina knew how much pain Amy was suffering. Didn’t she suffer from a similar pain? No, Ray didn’t use a gun. But she was keenly aware her marriage died the day he tried to withhold the surgery that was needed to save her and Jessica’s lives. She could only thank God for her Doctor. Again she put an arm around Amy’s shoulder and whispered, “I’m here for you.”