Unbreakable Spirit

By Charlotte Williams

I was getting into my car, which was parked in my driveway, to depart for work when all a sudden, this man I knew for so many years approached me and said, We need to talk.

I need to get going for work. I will call you later, I replied in a rush. Then before I can even finish my sentence, he pulled out this big gun and aimed it straight at me. I stood there looking directly into the barrel of that gun, and I began to start shaking like a leaf. It was the most frightening thing I ever had to endure. I was so petrified that I could see my life flash right before my eyes. Just before he pulled the trigger, he had this mad-dog look on his face, and the sound of his voice was so bizarre that it sounded like the devil himself was talking to me. This was not like anything that I had ever heard before. In that same bizarre voice, he said this to me: This is for not helping me mentally and financially.

Then abruptly he shot me in my right leg. Normally when you get shot in the leg, you fall and the gunshot takes your leg from right under you. But instead of me falling, I started running. I think that if I were at a track meet, I wouldve won that race, regardless of what type of race it was. I saw the smoke steaming out of the gun, and I could smell my flesh burning, as if someone had slapped some fresh meat on the grill. I felt consistent sharp pains shooting through my body, and then suddenly it felt like my whole body was on fire. I would never wish that pain on anyone, even my worst enemy.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jul 24, 2015
• ISBN: 9781503588424

Charlotte Williams

After studying philosophy in college, Charlotte Williams went on to work as an arts journalist, writing for newspapers and magazines, and making documentaries for the BBC. More recently, she also worked in radio drama, writing original plays and adaptations. Williams died in 2014 at the age of fifty-nine.

Book preview

UNBREAKABLE

SPIRIT

CHARLOTTE WILLIAMS

Copyright © 2015 by Charlotte Williams.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Rev. date: 07/22/2015

Xlibris

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CONTENTS

Chapter 1 The Courtship

Chapter 2 Detachment

Chapter 3 The Getaway

Chapter 4 House Is Not a Home

Chapter 5 Trapped Inferno

Chapter 6 Present but Not Committed

Chapter 7 Captivity

Chapter 8 Mistaken Identity

Chapter 9 Trust No One

Chapter 10 From Meltdown to Restoration

Chapter 11 Economical Progression

Chapter 12 Wild Barbarian

Chapter 13 Born Advocate 1.2

Chapter 14 Born Advocate 2.2

Chapter 15 The Narrow Escape

Chapter 16 Love of a Descendant

Chapter 17 Questions to God

Chapter 18 Unhabitual Destruction

Chapter 19 Relocation

Chapter 20 Redemption

Chapter 21 Ultimate Betrayal

Chapter 22 Recuperation

Chapter 23 Fragile but Shattered

Chapter 24 Trustworthy Confidant

Chapter 25 The Guardian

Chapter 26 Special Assistant

Chapter 27 Slow Resources

Chapter 28 Friend in Need Is a Friend in Deed

Chapter 29 The Best Gift

Chapter 30 Liberty

My first thanks go out to my true friend William Hayward, for encouraging me and giving me inspiration to write this novel.

I want thank my niece Kristie Moore for all your intelligence and contribution and for taking the time out to help me with all you have on your plate yourself with school and work.

I want to thank my son, Doug Best, for being there and supporting me every step of the way.

Thank you to my daughter, Tamara Tweedy, for sharing her expertise, dedication, and time unstintingly and contributing so many hours helping me with the finishing touches on my book.

I want to thank my friend Dell Crawford for helping me through all the adversity and the hurdles during my darkness days.

My friend Beth Arnold, you’ve been there for me through the good and the bad. We’ve laughed when we were happy and cried together when we were sad. You undertook to revivify me during the worst time of my life. Thank you for being my friend.

Last but not least, my good friends Jody Steven and Mark Steven, whom I have known for twenty-six years. I can’t say enough or find the words to say how much I appreciate you guys being there for me. I feel so privileged that you are in my life. Your kind heart has always shined through.

And a very big thanks to my support team for all the people who contributed their testimonials: Marko Matich, Robert Schmidt, Tony Tran, Malahni Page, Mark Steven, Jody Steven, William Hayward (a.k.a. Blue), Doug Best, Bonnie Hamilton, Kristie Moore, Tamara Tweedy, Dell Crawford, and Beth Arnold.

I want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart.

Charlotte Williams

Charlotte is one of the most resilient people that I have met in my lifetime. The harrowing tale of how she escaped from an ex-husband’s murder attempt seems ripped from the headlines but pales in comparison to her real struggles—fighting city hall to recoup the costs from the damage to her house caused by police officers in the apprehension attempt and lumbering through each day with a substantial limp due to shrapnel that was lodged in her leg. Her upbeat attitude and sassy sense of humor reminds others that obstacles can be overcome with the right mind-set.

—Marko Matich

Charlotte is one of those few people that as life throws her challenges that would make most of us bitter and resentful, her faith in God, family, and friends keeps her compassionate, unselfish, and perseverant (even against seemingly unlikely odds). She has been a joy to know and an inspiration to us all.

—Robert Schmidt

"Charlotte is a wonderful person with a colorful personality, whom I have had the pleasure to work with. She possesses multiple skills and has an uncanny knack for solving problems, whether it is a simple or highly complicated task. She displays a strong sense of self, perseverance, and determination in getting things done.

"In the years that I have known her, she has shown me trust, integrity, and core values. Both her experience in life and at work has exceeded anyone’s expectations and just further demands respect.

She has been a good friend, fellow employee, and mentor, and it has been my privilege to have worked alongside her."

—Tony Tran

My dear sister, Charlotte, when I see her, she reminds me of Deniece Williams’s lyrics to ‘Black Butterfly.’ She has survived, and now her moment has arrived. She has sailed across the waters to tell the world what the struggle brings. Sets the skies on fire to rise up even higher so the ageless winds of time can catch her wings. Her faith is always as sure as the stars. Now she is free and the world can see just how proud and beautiful she is. The current has left her heart and sent it soaring. She can now write a timeless message clear across the sky so that all can read it and remember when we need it. That a dream conceived in truth can never die. Charlotte is strong, loving, caring, has a strong faith base, and is one of the biggest givers I’ve known. My sister has a heart of gold and is always willing to step up and help anyone in need. She is a fighter and an inspiration to me. She is my black butterfly sailing across my universe so I can see how proud and beautiful she is no matter the struggle. Thank you.

—Malahni Page

"Charlotte and I became friends through our work. We were both doing production control / scheduling for an oil company. I was immediately impressed with her intelligence and tenacity.

"Charlotte would be given a list of critical items to follow up with swing shift production. She was utterly dependable. As I got to know Charlotte better over the years, I learned how hard she had worked to better herself and make a good life for her and her son. She accomplished a great deal while maintaining high ethical standards of behavior for herself and her son. She is rightly very proud of all he has accomplished.

"Charlotte left the oil company for a period of time, and when she returned, she became good friends with my wife, Jody. Jody helped install an irrigation system in her garden, and she helped with some great decorating in our home. She has many talents!

Charlotte overcame many obstacles and challenges that would have defeated a person of lesser strength of character. We treasure her friendship and truly consider her to be part of our family.

—Mark Stevens

One of the greatest friends I have ever known, Charlotte is honest, kind, and always thinking of others. She is one person that you can definitely count on to get the job done, big or small. She will respond to you without any hesitation. We have been friends for over twenty years. I am truly blessed to have her in my life. A friend for life.

—Bonnie Hamilton

To Mom: My mother has faced many challenges in her life. She has overcome all of them. She has repeatedly refused to let the devil dictate her life. She’s a strong, courteous, independent, caring, unselfish person. Her entire life, she has always put everyone first before herself. For that reason, it makes her an incredible human being. My mother is a true angel sent from heaven.

—Doug Best

"To my dear friend,

"Words cannot express how grateful I am to have a true friend in my life—Charlotte Williams. I have never met anyone precisely like her. I believe God threw the mold away once she was created. She is beautiful in the inside and outside, strong minded, dependable, and trustworthy and has an exceptionally good ear for listening and an amazing sense of humor. I was in a financial situation, and she lent me a helping hand, not knowing me an extended amount of time.

She is a true friend that walks in when the rest walks out. She will go to the end of the earth if needed to help you. A true friend is a lifetime friend, and that she is indeed. She is truly one of God’s angels. Love you.

—Dell Crawford

"Charlotte