Danielle continued filming until a police officer instructed her firmly to stop. When she refused, he said bluntly, “Put the phone away or you will be removed from the restaurant.”
A female officer named Officer Parker knelt beside me and asked gently, “Can you explain what happened?”
“He punched me and forced my head into the table,” I said.
She examined my shoulder carefully and asked additional questions while paramedics evaluated my injuries. They recommended I visit the emergency department for a head injury check, and Luke insisted on accompanying me.
As I was led outside, Patricia called after me sweetly, “Julia, you can still return home. Only God can save you.”
I turned back slowly and replied, “God does not file police reports. I do.”
At Raleigh Regional Medical Center, nurses cleaned the cut inside my lip and performed imaging tests to check for a concussion. Luke sat beside my hospital bed with his hands tightly clasped.
“I am sorry,” he said quietly. “I never realized things were this bad.”
“I tried to hide it,” I admitted. “He always convinced me that I was the problem.”
Luke shook his head firmly. “You are not the problem.”