It began the night before with Crystella standing in her usual Saturday evening spot, a street corner. She was hoping to earn enough to keep her pimp, Geoff happy, if not if would mean yet another beating.
“You lookin’ to party?” Crystella asked as the mini van rolled to a stop.
“Yeah,” shot back the male voice as Crystella stepped up to the side of the vehicle.
After more talk, she clamored into the passenger seat. The minivan then disappeared into the city lights.
Less than an hour later the same mini van pulled up to the street corner. That’s where Crystella got out without looking back as the van pulled away.
As she straightened her tube top, Geoff stepped from out of the shadows and grabbed her by the arm. Crystella knew better than to struggle as the man dragged her further down the nearby side alley.
He cuffed her across the face nearly knocking her down.
“Let’s see it, Bitch,” he demanded as she struggled to pull the cash from the small purse that once hung from her shoulder.
Geoff grabbed it from her as soon as he saw the money. He quickly counted what was in his hand.
“Where’s the rest of it?” he shouted as he slammed a first into her face.
The blow dropped the small framed woman to her hands and knees. Before Crystella could answer, Geoff kicked her in the ribs, sending a stab of pain through her body.
He stood over her as she tried to get back up on her knees. He continued to yell at her, demanding the money Crystella owed him.
In the distance came the sound of police sirens. As they grew closer, Geoff moved towards the alley way entrance to see how close they were.
Once he knew they were farther down the block, he turned his attention back to Crystella. However she was no longer on her hands and knees, neither she was jus making the corner at the far end of the ally.
He was already planning what he would do to her as he took off running after her.
By the time he reached the end of the alley way and raced around the corner, Crystella was now where in sight. Geoff continued rushing down the street towards a cluster of businesses on the corner ahead.
Crystella had found a hiding spot behind a low garden wall. She remained there curled in a fetal position under a wood deck, hidden by a large plastic garbage can.
For the next hour Geoff stomped his way back and forth looking for the woman. Crystella lay there another hour after hearing Geoff one final time.
Cold and stiff Crystella eventually decided to chance it and leave her hiding spot. She ventured up the stairs and tried the door knob.
It was locked; she stood still, wondering what next she should do before returning to the sidewalk. Crystella felt her heart leap into her mouth when she realized the darkened figure she was looking at was her pimp Geoff.
He recognized Crystella at about the same time she saw him. She turned and sprinted between the buildings as Geoff came rushing for her.
Then she saw a set of steps off to one side and having nowhere else to go, ran up to the door. It gave and she slipped inside slamming and locking Geoff outside the building.
Through the darkness, Crystella searched for a place to hide as Geoff continued to beat on the door. She rattled one door after another before finding one that was unlocked.
She huddled in the corner under what she believed to be table clothes hung up for storage, listening to Geoff pound at the door and call her vulgar names. Her fear of him refused to allow her to relax until after several hours of no longer hearing him.
Slowly the night-time melted away and small streams of light floated in from under the doorway. By this time, exhausted and hungry, Crystella had fallen asleep.
At first she thought she was dreaming as bit of song reached her brain. As she came more and more awake, Crystella recognized the music as a church hymn.
She struggled to get to her feet and feel along the wall next to the door frame for a light switch. The tiny uncovered bulb spread its brightness through out the small room where the choir stored their robes meant for special occasions.
Crystella laughed the thought, “A whore hanging out in church’s closet.”
Her thought was interrupted by the sound of a man’s voice. She sucked in her breath, fearful the voice she heard was that of Geoff’s.
But it wasn’t. Instead the tone was forceful yet comforting.
Crystella moved closer to the far door to listen. The man was talking about how everyone who enters the house of the Lord is welcomed.
She heard herself doubt what she figured was the pastors words. Still she couldn’t help but listen and feel that there was truth in what he was saying.
All too quickly the service came to an end and that’s when Crystella concluded she needed to leave the closet and find the front door of the church. No one seemed to notice as she slipped out the door and ducked behind a large curtain that emptied her onto the church floor.
Slowly she started towards the preacher, whom she could see was shaking hands and speaking to church goers. As she searched out to tap the pastor on the shoulder, she recognized the man he was speaking with as the ‘John’ she’d had sex with the night before in his minivan.
“Oh,” she thought, “it’s that kind of a church.”
Crystella stepped past the preacher and headed towards the double doors. She noticed some of the church goers looking strangely at her.
”Well what do you expect, dressed like a whore in church?” an internal voice exclaimed.
Not wanting to seem to be in a panic, Crystella calmly walked passed the gazing eyes and small whispering voices. She could hardly breathe as she pushed open the doors and stumbled out into the sunshine of a Sunday morning.
At the bottom of the steps she looked up only to see Geoff standing across the street from her. He had a menacing gaze in his eyes that caused her to tremble with fear.
That fear nearly caused her to scream when she felt someone touch her shoulder gently. Could Geoff have a henchman laying in wait for her to exit the church?
Crystella spun on her heel and jumped back. She came face to face with a woman who was holding the hand of a young child.
“I’m sorry,” the woman said, “I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“It’s okay, I’m jus’ a little jumpy is all,” Crystella answered as she continued walk backwards.
“I’m Claire,” the woman offered, “I tried to stop and introduce myself to you when you came out of the closet, but you were too fast.”
“You saw me?” Crystella asked.
“Oh yes!” Claire, replied, “I see a lot of things people don’t realize.”
Crystella followed Claire’s glance across the street where Geoff was still standing. She was right — Claire’ saw more than Crystella realized she would.
“We want you to come to dinner at our home,” Claire stated.
Crystella shook her head from side to side, “No I can’t I can’t put you to the trouble.”
Claire smiled, “You’ll be no trouble. You can take a warm bath, I’ll get you some clean clothes and we’ll eat and have a nice chat.”
“Thank you, but…,” Crystella tried to refuse.
Claire cut her off mid sentence, “Besides, my husband knows how to handle trouble.”
Jus’ then the child screamed, “Daddy!”
He let go of his mother’s hand and dashed passed Crystella and into the waiting arms of a policeman. Claire moved towards him refusing to let go of Crystella’s elbow and kissed the man in the uniform.
“Crystella,” Claire started, “let me introduce you to my husband, Joe.”
As the two shook hands, Crystella glanced in Geoff’s direction. He was no longer anywhere to be seen and jus’ knowing that left her with a feeling of hope.