32

A few days later Nia’s phone woke her up in the middle of the night at exactly 3:10 AM. Who would call her at that time of the night? Then she came to her senses. Something had to be wrong. She grabbed the phone.

Tanya’s name and number flashed. Probably just called her by mistake in a state of drunkenness. It rang again. Shaking her head, she pressed the icon. “What?”

“Need help.” Tanya’s voice was a whisper.

“What’s wrong?”

“Don’t…know…where I am. Need help.”

“Tanya. Hang up and call 9-1-1. I can’t help you because I don’t know where you are. And even if I did, I wouldn’t have a way to get there. Call 9-1-1.”

“Need yo...” Her voice trailed off.

“Tanya, Tanya, answer me.” Nia flipped the switch on her light. “God help me.” She took a deep breath. Then she dialed Bart. Even though they weren’t dating, he was still Bart. He would help her. “Bart, this is Nia. Wake up. Wake up. I need you.”

“What’s wrong? Are you hurt?” A bit more coherent.

“It’s not me. I’m fine.”

“What’s going on?”

“Tanya called. She told me she doesn’t know where she is and she needs help and then the line went dead. I yelled and yelled for her but she didn’t answer. I think she passed out or something.”

“It was probably just another one of her drunk pranks.”

“Maybe, but that doesn’t mean she isn’t in trouble.” Nia was persistent.

“I suppose.”

“I should call 9-1-1.”

“Might be the best thing for her. It might force her to get her act together.” Bart yawned.

“Or it might not. It could make things worse for her. A lot worse.”

“I thought the two of you synched your phones so you could find each other’s if you lost them.”

“We did. That’s a great idea.” They’d done that at the beginning of the school year when they’d been on better terms.

“You do that and I’ll pick you in a few minutes. We’ll go find her.”

“Thanks, Bart. I knew I could count on you.” She threw on her clothes and ran down the steps. Bart drove up. She jumped in the car. “The app on the phone shows she’s about a mile down the road.”

“Left or right?”

“Right.”

As they neared the spot, he slowed to a crawl. “I don’t see her car anywhere.”

“Neither do I. But the app’s still showing her phone right in this area.”

The car came to a complete stop.

“According to this her phone is somewhere to the left of us. In the woods.”

“Hopefully, she’s still with the phone. Let’s go find her.” Bart climbed out. “Tanya!” Bart yelled. “Tanya. Tanya!”

“Maybe we should go separate ways.” Nia slammed the car door.

“OK. You take the flashlight.”

“But then you can’t see.”

“I’ll use the app on my phone.”

“OK.” Sweeping the flashlight in an arc, she searched one way and then the other. Ten minutes later she saw a dark form huddled on the ground. She hurried over.

Tanya lay crumpled on the grass.

Nia knelt down and put her hand on Tanya’s throat. It was cool to the touch. She knelt close to her mouth. Not breathing as far as she could tell. Nia pressed the phone. “I found her. Better call an ambulance.”

“Will do. Be there in a minute.”

Nia put her hand on Tanya’s chest hoping Tanya breathed. No movement. She looked up past the trees to the stars. “I know you’re here, God. With me. With Tanya. I know she’s done some stupid things, but I’m asking You to save her. She doesn’t know You. I want her to know You. I’m begging You to send Your power through me to help her. You are the God who saves…not only spiritually but physically. Please save her.”

A sense of calm flowed through Nia’s body. Her hand tingled and then turned warm.

Nia kept praying—begging for God’s divine intervention.

***

As Bart got closer, he heard and saw Nia. She was kneeling beside Tanya, one hand on Tanya’s chest but the other held up high. To God? Was she praying?

Her voice was loud and clear. “She doesn’t know You yet, God. Please don’t take her. It can’t be her time. I want her to know You. I pray that You will send down your healing power, Your precious healing strength. Use me to help Tanya. If it’s Your will.”

The moon shone down through the trees, bathing them in an almost heavenly light. It was as if God was shining His power down on Nia and Tanya. He wanted to go to them, but he was frozen to that spot by something stronger than himself.

Nia kept praying. Tears streaked her cheeks.

And Bart was suddenly filled with God’s presence. He wasn’t alone any longer. God was there with him. With Nia. With Tanya. His gaze moved up to the twinkling heavens. “Oh, God. You never left me. I see that now. I’m sorry I was so angry. Please forgive me.”

The stars twinkled God’s answer.