“Please come home, Dad! Mom is screaming.”
My son contacted me ten times during a typical workday while I was in a meeting.
My heart sank with each missed call. Finally, with shaking hands, I called him back during the break.
“Dad, I don’t know what to do. His voice shook as he added, “I just got home and I heard my mom screaming in my room.
“Why didn’t you go to her room?” I asked, trying to keep my voice from wavering with the growing panic.
Terrified, he said into the phone: “I hear other voices inside. I’m too scared to go in.”
I immediately called my wife, but she did not answer. I was forced to call 911 in case they got here sooner. The drive home seemed endless and my mind kept spinning with the worst-case scenarios.
I didn’t think twice about going home when I finally did. I heard the distant faint sound of police sirens and ran to our bedroom door. I was amazed at what I saw when I broke through the door and adrenaline was pumping through my veins.
My wife, her eyes wide with terror, was crying and shaking as she lay on the bed. I was unable to understand the language that was being sung by three individuals – two men and one lady. There was a strange light in the room and they were holding strange objects.
“Get away from her!” they screamed but refused to give up. aimed at the nearest individual and caused them to fall. The other two stepped back, taken aback by my sudden aggression.
My son called, “Daddy!” from the door, and when I turned to look at him, tears were streaming down his face.
“Call the police again, tell them to hurry!” I yelled and turned back to my husband. Her screams split the air as she continued to writhe. he grabbed her shoulders and tried to keep her calm. It’ll work, honey. I’m here,” I muttered, assuring myself more than her.
The police showed up within minutes, burst into the room, and dragged the intruder out.
The paramedics then rushed to my wife. It broke my heart to see her in agony as I watched helplessly as they tried to stabilize her.
It took the paramedics several hours to calm her down. After being taken to the hospital, she was given medication and was under close supervision. After the intruder was apprehended by the police, I had to piece together what had happened.
As I sat by her bedside in the hospital, I prayed that my wife would wake up. My little boy was sitting next to me, holding my hand tightly.
“Dad, what happened?” He asked in a scared and quiet voice.
I said, “I don’t know, dude,” my voice brimming with emotion. “But we can do it. “I promise.”
When my wife woke up she was scared and confused. She was only vaguely aware of the day’s events, except that she felt sick the whole time until everything went dark.
The results of the police investigation revealed that the intruders belonged to a cult that thought they could heal people with their energies. They came for my wife because they thought she was special.
The next few days were filled with trips to the hospital, police interviews, and trying to comfort my child. But despite everything, we stuck together and supported each other.
It took a while, but my wife gradually recovered. The mental scars lingered even after the physical wounds had healed. To start over, we moved into a new home and focused on starting over.
Looking back, I see how close I came to losing everything. Even though I was nervous and insecure, I also found a strength I didn’t know I had. And I learned that no matter what happens, family bonds and love can get us through the hardest times.
The ordeal that unfolded that day was nothing short of a nightmare, but it became a profound testament to our family’s strength and resilience. As I reflect on these harrowing moments, I realize how crucial it was to act quickly and decisively. The fear and uncertainty we faced were overwhelming, yet the love and support of my family provided a beacon of hope in the darkest hours.
Despite the physical and emotional scars that lingered, we emerged from the experience with a renewed sense of unity and determination. Traumatic events forced us to move forward rebuild our lives and start over in a new home where we could find peace and stability.
Through trials and tribulations, I discovered an inner strength I never knew I had. The ordeal taught me that no matter how dire the situation, the bonds of family and the power of love are formidable forces that can carry us through adversity. While the memories of that day will last forever, they serve as a reminder of our ability to overcome challenges and support each other, regardless of the obstacles we face.