Chapter 11: Friends

Karen sat on one of the several wooden benches next to a large gazebo in McNeil town square. She was becoming a little concerned because it was well after nine PM and there still was no sign of Elisabeth. She thought about their new friendship. They had only just met but somehow Karen felt close to Elisabeth. There was no explainable reason for the way she felt about someone she had only spent a few hours with other than Elisabeth's open joy and passion for life, something Karen had never felt, but wished she could. She reflected fondly on the short period of time, they had spent sharing conversation and laughs in the parking lot before and after the sermon, and even those moments seemed far away now. Karen knew that she would always have a place in her heart for Elisabeth no matter what happened to their relationship.

Earlier in the day Karen had questioned several of the local boarding houses and motels in McNeil about Art and Louie. She found out that they had indeed attempted to find lodging but probably ended up as Karen had in Fayetteville. After returning to Fayetteville Karen located Art and Louie at a hotel not half a mile from where she was staying. She had hung around their hotel lobby for a couple of hours and was eventually rewarded by seeing both Art and Louie enter the hotel. She purposely walked passed them not more than a foot or so away, and even though both men appraised her as men will do with any good-looking woman, not the slightest hint of recognition crossed their faces. Karen enjoyed the masquerade, achieving a kind of rousing and almost sexual pleasure in the shrouded encounter. She waited, and again felt the thrill of adrenaline rush when they passed her for a second time as the left the hotel for lunch, but it wasn't nearly as stimulating as it had been the first time. Now that she had accomplished the thing she had set out to do it felt almost anti-climatic and even perhaps a little childish, but she had seen it to closure, something she rarely attained in the past.

But now, concern for Elisabeth over came her again, and she found a public phone and called for a cab to take her out to Magnesia Springs.

The taxicab's headlights illuminated the empty parking lot in front of reverend Bishop's tent and spilled over the metal surface of a lone car that Karen recognized as Elisabeth's vehicle.

After discerning Elisabeth seated in the driver's seat Karen paid the cab driver and dismissed him.

She approached the driver's door of Elisabeth's car and lightly rapped her knuckles on the rolled up window. "Elisabeth it's me Karen. Are you all right?" Elisabeth sat motionless, both of her hands tightly gripping the top of the steering wheel while stared blankly out the front windshield.

Karen tried the car door, but it was locked. She banged harder on the window and called out. "Elisabeth! What's wrong?! It's me Karen! Are you all right? Come on, unlock the door!"

Karen continued pounding on the window and eventually Elisabeth turned toward her. Karen saw Elisabeth's face was streaked with tears, and she looked to be in shock and didn't seem to recognize Karen at all. "Elisabeth! It's me Karen. Open the door!" Karen frantically yelled through the closed window.

A spark of recollection crossed Elisabeth's face and her lips mouthed the word "Karen", and she mechanically pushed the switch unlocking the car. Karen wrenched the car door open flooding the car interior with light affording Karen an even clearer view of how disheveled Elisabeth was. Gripping her friend by the shoulders she turned her, so she could look directly into her eyes, then calmly as possible asked. "What is it Elisabeth? What's wrong?"

"I ... Oh God! I... " A fresh supply of tears flowed down Elisabeth's cheeks and body wrenching sobs made it impossible for her to speak."

"Slide over honey. It'll be all right." Karen told her friend gently pushing her toward the passenger seat.

With Karen's help Elisabeth slid across the bench seat, the side of her face coming to rest against the window. Karen got into the car then closed and locked the doors behind her.

Reaching across the seat she gently patted Elisabeth on the thigh. "It'll be okay. But you've got to tell me what's wrong. I can't help if I don't know what it is."

"I ... He ... I'm filth..." A new round of crying silenced Elisabeth,

"No you're not. It's okay Honey. Just take your time. I'm here." Karen soothed her.

After several minutes Elisabeth bit down on her lower lip then turned toward Karen. "Oh ... Karen it is you isn't it. Oh dear God! Karen..." Elisabeth began nervously wringing her hands together.

Karen took both of Elisabeth's hand into hers and squeezed them gently. "Yes. It's me. Take all the time you need. I'll be here."

Elisabeth clamped her eyes shut as if trying not to see the pain she felt. "I ... He did ... I did ... sinful, vulgar, detestable things. I ... I didn't want to ... As God is my witness ... I didn't want to ... But ... But then..." She broke down in tears and began quickly rocking her body forward and back as a child might do. "Oh dear God. Then I ... I ... enjoyed it! How could I have ... How? How? How?"

"Take it easy Elisabeth. Try and relax." Karen slipped her arm around Elisabeth's shoulder and drew her head into her breast comforting her. "No matter how horrible it seems right now, we can work it out. I promise."

"You don't know ... You just don't know..." Elisabeth sobbed.

"You're right. I don't know. But I promise you ... I'm no stranger to hurt and pain. We will work this thing out together." Karen whispered.

"He sodomized me Karen! He sodomized me... !" She was close to screaming.

"It's all right. It's not the end of the world. I know you don't believe that now, but it's not the end of the world, honest. I know ... I've been there." Karen was attempting to keep Elisabeth from getting hysterical.

Karen couldn't be sure if Elisabeth had understood her or not as Elisabeth continued. " ... and other things. Cruel. Disgusting. Degrading things." She buried her face in her hands crying uncontrollably once again.

Karen now felt that she had a pretty fair idea of what had happened to Elisabeth. She didn't feel qualified or even necessarily comfortable taking on the role of psychologist, but she remembered how confused she had felt after her father had raped her the first time. If someone, anyone had been there to help snap her out of self-guilt it could have been easier.

Karen pulled Elisabeth's hands away from her face, then turned her head, so she could look straight into her eyes. "You listen to me Elisabeth!" She said harshly. "I mean it! You listen to me. You're not the first woman to be raped, and you won't be the last. And no matter what you felt during the act, it was still rape. There are certain uncontrollable physical things that can happen, but it doesn't change the fact of rape." She paused momentarily letting her words soak in before continuing. "Now you listen. This is the most important thing for you to understand. I mean it! You listen to me! A man can only rape your body ... but only you can allow him to rape your mind. Do you understand me? Don't let that bastard fuck your mind. You are a wonderful person Elisabeth. I love you, but more importantly you must love yourself. Do you hear me Elisabeth? Do you understand?"

Elisabeth took in several sharp breaths then nodded. "Yes. I think so." She whispered uncertainly.

"Good." Karen answered. "Where are your keys Honey. Let's get the hell out of this depressing lot. We'll go get some coffee or something."

Elisabeth fumbled inside her handbag and handed Karen a ring of keys. As Karen was pulling out of the dirt lot she looked over at Elisabeth and said. "Now you use the vanity mirror and fix up your face and hair. You'll feel better about yourself then." Karen needed to keep Elisabeth busy and not dwelling on what had happened to her.

Elisabeth was looking in the mirror applying lipstick to her lips when she suddenly stopped and looked over at Karen. "Oh God! Richard. How can I tell Richard? Oh how can I Karen. How can I?"