The Night I stopped an Attacker

About a month ago I watched some episodes of "What Would You Do" on my iPad. This show sets up scenarios where actors are doing offensive mean things to see if people will step in and help. One of the shows showed two teenagers in a park, a boyfriend and a girlfriend fighting. Well mostly the guy was being a total jerk and verbally abusing the girl. Many people just walked by, some came and said something and others literally pulled the girl out of there trying to protect her.

It always makes you wonder how you would handle situations like that.

Well I know.

It was my junior/senior year of college (I graduated in three years). Eric and I were happily married, living in our little ghetto one bedroom apartment that would be totally scary any other place than Provo, Utah. Our apartment complex was full of other young married couples just like us so it was actually a fun place. Eric I and were attending a weekly Strengthening Your Marriage Institute class.

As we drove home from the class about 8:00 at night, along the road under a street lamp there were two people. The girl was trying to get away while the guy was hitting her. She stumbled and fell and he proceed to kick her repeatedly.

Eric pulled the car over and before it was barely stopped I jumped out the car filled with outrage and anger
"What are you doing- get away from her!" I hollered heading towards the couple.
Eric hurried out of the car towards me, amazed and shocked by my total outrage and also trying to protect me. (Though he later told me he was afraid he might have the protect the guy from me).

He stopped kicking the girl and looked our way, as soon as he saw us-i.e. Eric (who is 6'8")- he began backing away.

"Come with us- I told the girl."
She hurried and got in our car. I was literally shaking at this point filled with outrage and adrenaline.
We asked her what was happening and if she was okay.
It turned out she was just walking home from her sisters and her boyfriend- yes the jerk hitting her- was mad at her and started chasing her. Oh and it gets better-she was pregnant with his baby.

I told her that she does not have to put up with that and that she should never be treated that way. She said she knew and that he brother was a cop and so that she would report it; though neither Eric nor I believed this.

We drove her to her house and told her to please stay away from him, report it, and to take care of herself. As we were driving home we saw a police officer driving by. We flagged him down and told him what happened- he followed us to the house and went and spoke to her.

We never did find out if she filed a report or not, but we did what we could.

So if I ever saw someone being hurt or abused- well watch out- as I know what I will do.

I am linking this post up with Mama Kat's writing prompt #1 for this week 1.) Write about a time you or someone you know saved the day! (Her prompts actually go up on Thursdays- but Thursdays are PMM!! Yes tomorrow- so link up!! So writing this post today)