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Diane, a young university student, was home
for the summer. She had gone to visit some
friends one evening and time passed quickly
as each shared their various experiences of
the past year.
She ended up staying longer than planned,
and had to walk home alone. She wasn't
afraid because it was a small town and she
lived only a few blocks away.
As she walked along under the tall elm trees,
Diane asked "God" to keep her safe from
harm and danger.
When she reached the alley, which was a short
cut to her house, she decided to take it.
However, halfway down the alley she noticed
a man standing at the end as though he were
waiting for her.
She became uneasy and began to pray, asking
for "God's" protection. Instantly a comfort-
ing feeling of quietness and security wrapped
around her, she felt as though someone was
walking with her.
When she reached the end of the alley, she
walked right past the man and arrived home
safely. The following day, she read in the
newspaper that a young girl had been raped
in the same alley just twenty minutes after
she had been there.
Feeling overwhelmed by this tragedy and the
fact that it could have been her, she began
to weep. Thanking the Lord for her safety
and to help this young woman, she decided to
go to the police station. She felt she could
recognize the man,so she told them her story.
The police asked her if she would be willing
to look at a lineup to see if she could iden-
tify him. She agreed and immediately pointed
out the man she had seen in the alley the
night before. When the man was told he had
been identified, he immediately broke down
and confessed.
The officer thanked Diane for her bravery
and asked if there was anything they could
do for her.
She asked if they would ask the man one
question. Diane was curious as to why he
had not attacked her.
When the policeman asked him, he answered,
"Because she wasn't alone. She had two tall
men walking on either side of her."
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Marilyn L. Ali
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