Glacier House

PRELUDE

Trevor lay on the thin mattress on the floor. He could not move and could barely breathe. He had lost the night before. He continued to hear the echoes of the crowd yelling for more and more blood. His opponent kept hitting and kicking. He knew he probably had broken bones, and he was having difficulty breathing. He knew he should get up and drink some water, but it hurt too much. Maybe this was it. He was going to die, right there in the cell. A life of worthlessness and death by himself.

Vaguely he heard shouting but just allowed the tears to flow. Maybe death was welcome. At least there would be no more pain.

He realized the shouting was getting closer, and he heard feet running, and then the door to his cell was flung open. He heard what sounded like a hiss. Then he heard someone yell, “We need an ambulance.”

Trevor felt the upper part of his body gently lifted into someone’s lap. He passed out from the pain. When he came to, he heard someone talking gently.

“Father, this young man is so hurt and broken. He has been hurt too much. He has been so mistreated. Jesus, You know how that is. You know what it is like to be so tortured. I lift this young man up to You. I ask You to put Your hand on him and be with him and keep him alive. Help him to live so we might show him Your love instead of the evilness of those he has known.”

Trevor felt a stinging on some of his wounds and realized the man holding him was crying and rocking him. As the tears fell on the wounds, the salt in them stung. No one had ever cried for Trevor. He did not remember anyone who had held him so gently.

More rushing feet, then he was lifted onto the gurney. He passed out again from the pain.