Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Illustrate the meaning of "Don't Cut off Your Nose to Spite Your Face" (without using the actual phrase or litera (02/14/08)
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TITLE: Seeing Through the Pain | Previous Challenge Entry
By Celeste Ammirata
02/18/08 -
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Through her tears, Kylie looked at her husband as if he were a stranger. “You’re sorry? You honestly think that ‘I’m sorry’ is going to undo your infidelity? Or the fact that you fathered an illegitimate daughter, while I was wrought with guilt at not being able to give you the baby you always wanted? Do you know how painful those tests and procedures were? How stressful? I thought we were in it together Michael. I thought it was about us. Obviously, I was wrong.” She paused a moment to let her words sink in. “Well, Mr. Upstanding Christian man, you haven’t even begun to know what sorry is!”
Seeing the grief and heartbreak on his face, she knew he was telling the truth. But, it didn’t matter. He had been with another woman.
“I want you out of here Michael. I can’t stand looking at you. You make me sick.”
For just a second, he had the look of small prey being hunted by a predator. His lips moved, but no sound came out. “Praying, no doubt,” Kylie thought with disdain. “Of course he’d pray, it’s his answer to everything.”
“No.”
“No?” Exacerbated by the calm in his eyes, she threw her hands up. “What do you mean no? It’s not your choice to make, Michael. I want you out.”
“I’m not leaving. I’m going to fight for my family.”
“What about your daughter? You know, the one you had with that woman you cheated on me with.”
“Kylie, until this morning, when I signed for that letter from her lawyer, I had no idea about the baby. I’m going to do what I can for her. She’s going to know her daddy. Do you want her to go through life like you did, knowing that her father never even cared that she was born?”
That blew the wind out of her sails. Seeing his chance, Michael quickly crossed the room and took his wife in his arms. “I love you, Kylie, now more than ever. I’m not leaving.” He kissed the top of her head.
Deflated, she asked, “What are you going to tell the people at church?”
“The truth.”
“Aren’t you afraid of their reaction?”
He pulled her closer, held her tighter. “No. As long as I have God,” he leaned his head back and studied her face, “and you, and as long as I’m doing what is right in my heart, I have nothing to fear.”
His betrayal cut her deeply. But as much as it hurt, she knew he was doing the only thing that the man could do; what was right by God.
Six years ago, the only thing she could think about was having a baby, or more truthfully, not being able to have one. She stopped caring about everything else. She quit her job, hardly ever wore anything but pajamas, and held Michael responsible for the guilt she felt, dispelling every attempt he made to show his love and make her feel like a woman.
But he never gave up on her. His early propositions for adoption only brought on her wrath. But he kept on fighting. For her. For them. And now they had a beautiful son.
So, she had a choice to make. She could walk away from the only man she ever loved, and bulldoze the life they had built together. Or she could forgive Michael, as he forgave her for life she led before him; and the years she shut him out; as Jesus forgave her every sin at Calvary.
She sighed heavily, and leaned into him, savoring his strength and warmth. “Okay, Michael, it’s not going to be easy, but we’ll get through this, somehow.”
“Thank you,” he said, humbling her with the love that shone through his glistening eyes.
Maybe having a little girl around wouldn’t be so bad.
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Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift……………………2 Corinthians 9:15 (NIV)
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I don't think you need the "six years earlier" paragraphs toward the end; this peice works very well without the flashbacks.
Good example of someone who refused to "cut off his nose"--or to allow his wife to do so.
Good use of dialogue.
Keep writing.