The lift

It felt like the end of the world had come. I was homeless and because I didn’t have an address I was without any benefit. Desperately I walked down the road hoping that some kind person would give me a lift. I was trying to reach my sister who lives 100 miles away I walked into a tunnel and hoped that it was wide enough for the traffic to avoid me. As I walked I tried to remember why I was in this fix but I couldn’t quite recall the circumstances that had left me walking on a strange road in the middle of the night. Then just as I left the tunnel a car pulled up and a woman’s voice asked if I needed help. Bending down to the car window I tried to answer her but found that tears choked me and all I could do was to nod my head.

“Get in I’m going as far as Shefford if that’s any use to you.”

Gulping down my sobs I said, “Yes please, that’s very kind of you.”
I got into the dark blue car and sank down into the luxurious upholstery. The woman held out a tissue saying, “Here you look as if you might need this.” I dried my eyes then blew my nose; already I was beginning to feel more hopeful
“What on earth were you doing walking so far from town this late at night?” my rescuer asked.
I explained that I was trying to get to my sister and that I didn’t have any money.

“I’m sure that my brother-in-law will find a job for me, he’s a successful lawyer and is always kind towards me.” I didn’t add that I had a degree in psychology not law as I didn’t want her to ask too many questions. However, she seemed happy with my answers and we sat in silence for the rest of the ride. As we arrived at village on the outskirts of Shefford I anxiously looked out of the window and saw that the long threatened rain had arrived and was falling as if it just couldn’t wait to get to earth and I wondered where I could find shelter for the rest of the night. Then the woman looked at me and said,

“Do you have anywhere to stay tonight?”
Miserably I shook my head and she saw the solitary tear slowly run down my cheek.
“Don’t cry I’m sure that my husband will let you stay with us for one night, after all this is miserable weather I wouldn’t let a dog stay out in this rain.”
I tried to smile but wasn’t too hopeful that her husband would let a complete stranger stay in his house so I was speechless when I stood on the doorstep and he took one look at me and told me to go into the warm house.
In the house I was given a hot drink and that combined with the heat made me feel drowsy I struggled to keep my eyes open when the woman looked at me and gently taking hold of my arm drew me towards an open door. Dimly I saw that she was taking me into a bedroom.

She sat me down on the bed and began to undress me, although I knew that I wanted to resist I found that I was unable to stop her. Finally I was undressed and she made me lie down on the warm duvet I closed my eyes and I suppose that I drifted into a deep sleep because the next thing that I knew was that a heavy weight on my body made it impossible to move. As I struggled to move I heard a voice but I couldn’t make much sense of what it said. I felt drugged and befuddled and was only dimly aware of what was happening. I finally realised that the weight was that of the husband who was having sex with me. Vainly I tried to prevent him but he was stronger than I was and he could do whatever he wanted with me. Eventually he finished raping me and I quietly sobbed but he didn’t release me instead I felt a gentler touch as the woman began to kiss me.
Her tongue fleetingly touched mine then she licked my nipples. Then tracing a line down my abdomen with her fingers first then her tongue she began to lick where he had previously been. I was feeling confused and violated but due to him holding me down I could do nothing to prevent the second rape of the night. Then without saying any thing the man let me go and they both left the bedroom. Sobbing I tried to leave the bed but was too weak to stand, my legs kept buckling and I has to sit on the side of the bed until I was fully conscious. When I felt stronger I get dressed and left the house as quickly as I could. I felt dirty but didn’t want to wash in that house .All I wanted to do was to put as much distance as possible between me and them as possible. I didn’t think of going to the police all I wanted to do was escape them.
A police car pulled up beside me and the policeman asked me where I was going. I explained that I was trying to get to north Shefford, opening the door to the car he said,
“Get in. I’m going home and Shefford isn’t too far out of my way”

I didn’t want to get into his car but I knew that this was going to be the only way of putting distance between me and that awful pair. Reluctantly I got into the car and fell into a fitful doze only to be woken when the policeman said, “Here’s Shefford. Where do you want to go?” I told him where my sister lived and he drove me to her house. He didn’t leave until my sister opened the door and let me in. She took one look at me and hugged me.

“I won’t ask what happened you can tell me when you feel able. Come and have a bath while I get a bed ready.”
And that’s the end of my story. I did get a job working with my brother-in-law and was able to afford the rent for a small flat, small but adequate enough for one person I never told my sister the full story and I didn’t contact the police. I suppose that I felt too ashamed.