I just woke up from a terrifying dream, however, I feel it is really important for me to share it.
My sister, a guy, and I were at a library, going over random things in our lives, debating, etc.
We got on the topic of self-worth and my friend passed by, and said some profound statement like, "If you look at all of these bookcases, each one has flaws and damage from over the years, but they still stand strong, doing their duties, and although they are scarred, do you see them as worthless? Of course not. The same goes for us. Just because we are scarred, doesn't mean we can't still be strong and stand tall."
After a few minutes, we decided we were hungry and went to get food at an Arby's across the street. We ate and got into my sister's car to all ride home.
My sister had an extra coat and a silly straw hat with her for some reason, so as me and the guy got in the back, she went to the passenger's seat to put the hat and coat there.
A cop car turned on its lights and gave a quick siren, so we all looked over and saw a car that was obviously in the process of being "tricked out" and having bodywork done, because hydraulics were installed, new tires, and a platinum-looking grill, but the frame was beat up and had black primer all over it.
I snickered and went, "Ooooh, someone in TROUBLE!" as the car pulled to the side and parked, about twenty feet away from us. The cop got out and walked over calmly, and I noticed that the car he'd pulled over didn't have license plates or taillights. I nodded my approval smugly.
My sister was talking to us and giggling, about to close the passenger door, but then gunshots started. My eyes shot back to the police and pulled-over cars, and the man who had been pulled over had two guns.
I yelled for my sister to get in the car, close the door, and for all of us to slide down in our seats as far as we could. The gunshots continued, and luckily for us, the large gun ran out of bullets so the man discarded it.
I could hear the officer screaming into his radio, begging for help, and screaming out codes, and I wondered how he was still alive, but didn't dare move.
I closed my eyes and prayed for our safety, that the man hadn't seen us, and that everyone else around would, by some miracle, be okay.
The driver's side door was yanked open and a large, sweating man got in, his gun pointing at my sister.
"Get up, b***, get up, b****," he kept repeating as she slowly pulled herself into the seat, pushing over the hat and coat, and shaking, but she had a calm and serious expression, and I remember marveling how I had never seen anyone so brave.
"Hand me the keys," he demanded, and it seemed he was either injured, on a drug, or something because his breathing and words were strange.
In that moment, I began praying again, begging even more for our safety, but suddenly I felt calm rush over me and my prayer changed. "God, I know you can protect us. I know we'll be safe. Protect us."
I heard a firm reply, as if it was my own thoughts, but knew it wasn’t. "You must be brave. You must fight back or be used to cause more sorrow. The man doesn't know you're here yet."
I took a deep breath, sat up, and as fast as I could, grabbed the straw hat and shoved it in the man's face. In the confusion, he let go of his gun, my sister grabbed it, and we all began fighting him off.
I jolted awake, shaking from adrenaline, and once I realized it was a dream, tried to relax and go back to sleep, but I had a small thought come to my mind, "Emilee, if there was no straw hat, what could you have done?"
I closed my eyes and replied, "I could've kicked the guy's arm as hard as I could, that way the gun would definitely be pointed away from my sister, and then I would've pepper-sprayed the crap out of his face." My response made me chuckle and I laid there for a moment, relieved and grateful I always carry around my pepper-spray, but I began to think deeper into it.
There are people all over the world going through those kinds of situations, some are even happening at this very moment.
Humbled and grieved by this thought, I said a prayer for everyone who has ever gone through or will go through a situation where their lives are in extreme danger at the hands of another or are witnessing/being affected in any way by an act of terrorism. I thought about all the refugees, school shootings, the Paris attack, the bombing at the Boston Marathon, etc. and prayed for the survivors, the families of those who were lost, and especially for those who have been brave and fought back in those moments.
It may have been a silly dream to some, but to me, it was a reminder that in an instant, our lives can change.
We can either "be brave and fight back or be used to cause more sorrow."
"You must be brave" in any way you can.
annaxmalina
blakekathryn
stormborns
origamiaround
jbbartram-illu
2087
