Broken

Escape

Matt pulled up just as the police were getting out of their vehicles. “Stay here,” they shouted. They all looked toward the house when the heard a blood curdling scream and the sound of shattering glass. The police reacted much faster than Matt was able. He couldn’t believe that crumpled, broken girl was his sister. Finally, Matt found his legs and took off toward his sister.

The police busted through the front door followed by loud yelling then a grunt as someone slid down the wall. When Matt reached his sister, he knelt next to her trying to avoid the broken glass all around her. He went to reach out but pulled his hand back. Should he touch her? He decided to lean over and see if she was breathing. Thankfully he felt a heartbeat and heard shallow breaths. He breathed a sigh of relief, “Mia, Mia wake up, can you hear me?”

The ambulance pulled up then and the EMT’s came running over. “Please hurry, she is breathing but just barely. She is my sister, and she is pregnant.” I didn’t check for a pulse, but I heard her heart beating. I didn’t know if it was safe to touch her. Please help her!”

The paramedics skidded to a stop and dropped to their knees also. “How far along is she? What happened?” They started trying to get her stable enough to move her. They put gauze on her head and leg and arm where she was bleeding profusely.

“She told me she was like 13 weeks, like maybe a week ago. So maybe 14 weeks now, and her scum of a boyfriend beat the crap out of her and threw her out of the bedroom window. I was running late; I was supposed to be there to pick her up before he got home, but he came home early from the bar. Mia, I’m so sorry I should have been here.”

“What is your name?”

“Matt, my name is Matt.”

“OK Matt, your sister is not in good condition, and we need to get moving, but I have a few questions before we leave. Do you know if what happened has happened before and are you riding with us?”

“Yes, she was always getting beat, she was finally leaving him today because she found out she was pregnant and knew he would make her miscarry the baby again. I have my car. I'll follow you so that I am not in the way.”

“Wait, again?!?”

“Yeah, a few months back, he beat her up badly because he found out she was pregnant. She has just finally healed from that. She said he has hit her a few times since then, but nothing this bad.”

The paramedics started loading Mia on the gurney, so they could get going when the cops dragged John out in handcuffs. “I messed her up pretty good this time, didn’t I? She will never get knocked up again.” Matt launched himself at John and punched him once before the police dragged him off.

“Listen man, let us take care of this jerk. That way you don’t get into any trouble. Your sister is going to need you to help her recover, and you can’t do that if you are in jail next to him.” They then turned to each other and said, “we didn’t see anything this time.” Then they looked at John and said,” you better hope she and that little baby survive because if not we are going to make sure you get the book thrown at you.”

John laughed out loud, “we will see, we, will, see.”

Matt walked away and got in his car. Matt put his head on his steering wheel for a minute and just took a breath. On the way to the hospital Matt called Jay. Jay loved his sister very much and he knew he would want to know. Matt also wanted him there for support.

“Hey man, how did it go? I am on my way home. I was going to grab a pizza, and then I’ll be there.”

“Jay”

“Yeah, it’s me. What’s up?”

“Jay?”

“Matt, what’s wrong? You are scaring me, did Mia get scared again because I would go over there myself and grab her butt and take her over.”

“No, she didn’t get scared again, but man…I don’t think he gave her a chance to get scared.”

“Wait, what? What’s wrong? What do you mean he didn’t give her a chance? Is Mia OK? What happened?” At this point Jay was yelling into the phone. “Where are you? Where is she?”

“Jay, I got there too late. John came home from the bar early today, and I got there just as the cops got there and she, she…she came flying out of the bedroom window unconscious. She is hurt really badly. I thought she was dead at first. I’m on my way to Mount Mercy Hospital, and she is in the ambulance ahead of me. Thank God, someone must have heard the commotion and called in for the police and an ambulance. I am never going to get that image of her lying there almost dead.”

“s**t, Damn-it! I’m going to kill him. I told him it would be the last time he hit her. I will never understand why she didn’t leave then. I’ll be there in just a minute for two. Wait for me outside while they get her in, and the doctors have a chance to look at her. I’m almost there now.”

After Matt found a parking spot, he walked to the emergency room entrance and waited for Jay. A few moments later, Jay walked up to Matt and grabbed him for a rough hug. You could tell that he had been crying. Matt was still numb and couldn’t do anything but follow the motions right now. “Mia must be OK. She will be OK. We need her so much. Mia and I were finally getting the chance to be together.”

“I know, bud, we will get through this together and then take her home where she will always be safe. She will never be in danger again because we are going to make sure that guy can never come near her again. Jay, I need to say something first. Mia may never be the same again. I didn’t even recognize her when I saw her lying there. If she doesn’t look or act like the Mia that we know, will you be able to handle that? I need to know; I love you man, but I will not allow you to hurt her like everyone else.”

“Matt, you know how I feel about her, and I respect you wanting to keep her safe, so I won’t punch you in the face for that comment. No one else has ever been enough. She is all there is for me. This was our chance and nothing or no one is going to ruin that. I love her because she is Mia, not for her looks or because of a certain way she is. I cannot lose her now.”